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The top ranked Florida Gator women’s tennis team ended its regular season play with a loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt over the weekend. The top-ranked Gators entered Sunday’s final regular-season match tied with No. 2 Georgia and the Commodores with an 11-1 SEC record.
Match Against Vandy:
The Florida Gators had a 4-2 loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt at Currey Tennis Center Sunday afternoon.
Florida entered the match against Vanderbilt having won the doubles point in each of its last eight matches and the last 20 of 22 matches. However, the Commodores ended that run earning the doubles point.
It was the singles split that clinched Vandy the win. The teams then split first set winners on the six singles courts giving the Commodores all they needed to take home the win.
Thoughts on the Weekend:
Head coach Ronald Thornqvist took the podium Monday and spoke about his team’s performance over the weekend. Thornqvist said his team played well against Kentucky on Friday but could not keep up with Vandy on Sunday. Coach Thornqvist credits the success of the Commodores to the team’s coaches.
He said Vanderbilt was way stronger at the beginning of doubles giving them the momentum to outplay the Gators.
Even though the Gators lost in doubles they tried to claw their way back but were never really able to get all the way there. Coach Thornqvist believes Vandy’s win in doubles solidified the team.
He knows his team will reflect on the weekend and take this loss as an opportunity to grow and prepare for the SEC tournament.
SEC Tournament:
#Gators take No. 3 seed at @SECWTennis#GoGators https://t.co/UraQgUphqk pic.twitter.com/GWty7EMOHu
— Gator Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) April 17, 2017
Florida earned the No. 3 seed for the 2017 event held at the Currey Tennis Center on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
Tournament action begins Wednesday, April 19 but the Gators earned a double bye and will not start action until Friday, April 22nd.
Florida will play either No. 6 seed Mississippi State, No. 11 seed Tennessee or No. 14 seed Alabama at 10 a.m.
