The No. 15 Florida Gators women’s tennis team defeated Florida Golf Coast 7-0 at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Wednesday afternoon. In the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the tennis court, the Gators didn’t drop a single set in singles or doubles.
๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ. ๐#GoGators | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/jzjY4Sz7mo
— Gators Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) February 22, 2023
Florida Clinches Doubles Point
Courts one and two jumped out to 3-0 and 2-0 leads, respectively, and didn’t look back. Carly Briggs and Alicia Dudeney were the first to clinch by finishing off FGCU’s Emma Bardet and Ida Ferding 6-2.
The newly paired tandem of Rachel Gailis and Emma Shelton saw the doubles point out for the Gators. Gailis and Shelton converted a couple break points and defeated Jordana Ossa and Alba Retortillo 6-2.
๐๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ | Doubles point…GATORS! ๐
We're playing it out on court three!
Briggs/Dudeney โ 6-2
Gailis/Shelton โ 6-2
Dahlstrom/Spee โฌ๏ธ 4-5UF 1, FGCU 0#GoGators pic.twitter.com/IMApQJvKEW
— Gators Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) February 22, 2023
With the Gators already up 1-0, Sara Dahlstrom and Bente Spee found themselves in a hole down 3-5 and a break. The pair would fight off two match points before sending the set to a tiebreak and winning 7-6 (4).
Women Cruise in Singles
Florida would show no signs of slowing down in singles. A stunning four Gators bageled their opponents in the opening set.
๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ | Awful lot of ๐ฅฏ๐ฅฏ๐ฅฏ out here. ๐
#61 Briggs โฌ๏ธ 5-2
#83 Dahlstrom โฌ๏ธ 5-1
Dudeney โฌ๏ธ 6-0
Gailis โฌ๏ธ 6-0
#106 Sysoeva โฌ๏ธ 6-0
De Oliveira โฌ๏ธ 6-0UF 1, FGCU 0#GoGators pic.twitter.com/Q8Ik2GvDCR
— Gators Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) February 22, 2023
It didn’t take long for the Gators to get back on the board. On court six, Emily De Olivera continued her dominant run in singles with an impressive 6-0, 6-0 victory over Gabriela Macias.
Rachel Gailis would be the next to finish and would put Florida up 3-0. After winning the first set 6-0, she would only drop one game in the second set, finishing the match 6-0, 6-1.
๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ | Just need โ๏ธ more to clinch the match! ๐
#61 Briggs โฌ๏ธ 6-4
#83 Dahlstrom โฌ๏ธ 6-2, 1-1
Dudeney โฌ๏ธ 6-0, 4-1
Gailis โ 6-0, 6-1
#106 Sysoeva โฌ๏ธ 6-0, 2-3
De Oliveira โ 6-0, 6-0UF 3, FGCU 0#GoGators pic.twitter.com/ogGoEgUdjN
— Gators Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) February 22, 2023
With the Gators in prime position to clinch the match, all eyes turned to court three. Alicia Dudeney defeated Isabella Colmenares 6-0,6-2 to secure the win for the Orange & Blue.
No other words needed…๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ก. ๐
We will be playing out the remaining four courts here in Gainesville! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/y4D6Yh2viI
— Gators Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) February 22, 2023
With both schools agreeing to play out the rest of the matches, Florida would look for the sweep. No. 83 Dahlstrom battled back and forth in the opening games of the first set before cruising through the rest of the match. Dahlstrom would win 6-2, 6-1.
Standout freshman No. 106 Anastasia Sysoeva and No. 61 Carly Briggs each put up straight-set victories to give Florida the sweep.
Next Match
The Gators will stay in Gainesville before they take on No. 25 Pepperdine on Friday at 5 p.m.