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After a 4-2 win against 24th ranked Ole Miss on Sunday, Florida remains number seven in the country and improves its record to 17-4 (9-2 SEC). The Gators are currently preparing for their next match-up against Vanderbilt on Friday.
Gator head coach Ronald Thornqvist says his team is as healthy as can be.
“We’re about as healthy as we have been in a long time, maybe a couple small things here and there, which sort of comes with it this time of year. We are running quite a bit and lifting quite a bit. We are getting ready for some hot and humid weather, and tournament play in a few weeks.”
Vanderbilt is currently ranked eighth and has a very similar record in comparison to the Gators (17-4, 10-2 SEC). This is the final weekend of regular-season matches before the SEC Tournament.
Coach Thornqvist says Vanderbilt has no holes in its lineup.
“One thing that stands out with this Vanderbilt team is that they have pretty much the same type of player, or quality of player up and down the lineup. There are no holes in their lineup. There are no spots you say hey they’re good there but not so good there, they’re good in all six spots.”
The SEC remains the dominant conference in women’s tennis, and Thornqvist takes it as no surprise, saying the competition within the SEC is great for the team.
“I think it’s really great for us, and it shows. I think we have five teams in the top 10 in the country. If you can survive, and I’ll say year in and year out, if you win this league, you have a chance to win a national championship every year.”
Alexandra Cercone, Olivia Janowicz, and Sofie Oyen all have something to share together this weekend. The three seniors will compete in their last regular season match as a Florida Gator. The Gators will honor their three seniors prior to Sunday’s match against Kentucky.
Coach Thornqvist says he’s been blessed to have these three seniors on his team.
“I think as a group of three, that’s as good of a senior group that we’ve had in years here. I’ve been really blessed, we’ve all been blessed to have them.”
Florida will play Vanderbilt at 3pm on Friday, and Kentucky on Sunday at 1pm.
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