No. 15 Florida women’s tennis continued their winning streak this Saturday with a 4-1 win over No. 44 Mississippi State.
The Gators’ third straight win brings their overall record to 11-4 and their SEC record to 6-3.
“I wish there were a more straightforward way, but I think we’re a strong, deep team,” associate head coach Axel Damiens said. “I think we’re finding ways to put four points on the board. That’s all that matters.”
The Gators fell behind in doubles, with the Bulldogs taking two doubles wins and an early lead at 1-0. Mississippi State came in with three ranked doubles pairings and delivered early.
India Houghton and Lucie Pawlak took the first match win on Court 3 against Emma Cohen and Mia Robinson, 6-2.
The Bulldogs bounced back with No. 55 Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Chiara Di Genova on Court 1, in a 6-4 win against No. 34 Florida pair Nikola Daubnerova and Xinyi Nong. The win brought the outcome of doubles to the final match on Court 2 between Florida’s Valery Gynina and Brooke Black and Mississippi State’s No. 52 Gianna Oboniye and Athina Pitta.
The Bulldogs ultimately clinched the doubles point in a 7-5 win against Gynina and Black.
The Bulldogs kept their fight up heading into singles matches. Houghton dropped her first set on Court 1, but Florida quickly responded, with four Gators—Pawlak, Gynina, Black and Daubnerova—taking their opening sets and shifting momentum.
Black took the first singles match against Carolina Troiano on Court 4, 6-4, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Houghton battled back on Court 1, forcing a third set after taking the second 6-4. Pawlak secured Florida’s second point on Court 5 with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Robinson, giving the Gators a 2-1 lead.
All remaining courts pushed into third sets. Gynina was first to break through, earning a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win on Court 2 against Zinga Ntondele.
“My mindset is to be a badass,” Gynina said. “If I want to win, I need to be confident.”
With Florida up 3-1, the match came down to Houghton and Daubnerova. Daubnerova sealed the victory with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win, clinching the match for the Gators.
Florida hits the road next, traveling to Austin to face No. 7 Texas on Thursday. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
