Alabama Women's Tennis Falls to No. 5 Florida
3/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The 20th ranked University of Alabama women's tennis team lost 7-0 to the 5th ranked Florida Gators on Friday in Gainesville, Florida. The loss drops Alabama to 14-4 overall and 4-3 in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators improved to 18-2 and 6-1 in the SEC with the win.
The Gators took a 1-0 lead by winning all three doubles matches. At number one doubles, UF's Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes won 8-0 over UA's Sophie Cremers and Robin Stephenson.
"I was frustrated after the doubles matches," UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. "Florida just stepped up and played big time tennis."
Florida then went on to win all six singles matches in straight sets. Julie Rotondi clinched the match for the Gators at number four singles with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over the Crimson Tide's Ashley Bentley.
"We competed well at times in singles," Mainz said. "We can't get discouraged from this. I think this match will help make us stronger mentally."
Alabama will take on the 37th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday in Columbia, South Carolina, at 1 p.m. South Carolina is 12-5, 5-2 after defeating the Auburn Tigers on Friday.
Alabama will host Kentucky (April 4) and Vanderbilt (April 6) next weekend. Those planning to attend will need to enter the UA Varsity Courts from the Aquatic Center side, as there will be construction by the entrance close to the Alabama Football Complex.
Results
No. 5 Florida- 7 No. 20 Alabama- 0
Doubles
1. Jennifer Magley/Reyes (UF) def. Cremers/Stephenson (UA) 8-0
2. Gordon/Rotondi (UF) def. Bentley/Koppelle (UA) 8-1
3. Dawaf/Scaringe (UF) def. Stefanie Leung/Lord-Andrade (UA) 8-1
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. No. 41 Julia Scaringe (UF) def. Sophie Cremers (UA) 6-1, 6-4
2. No. 29 Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Robin Stephenson (UA) 6-0, 6-1
3. No. 22 Lindsay Dawaf (UF) def. Marie-France Lord-Andrade (UA) 6-3, 6-3
4. No. 30 Julie Rotondi (UF) def. Ashley Bentley (UA) 6-2, 6-1*
5. No. 12 Alexis Gordon (UF) def. Nathalie Koppelle (UA) 6-2, 6-1
6. Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Natalie McElveen (UA) 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 5, 1, 4, 2, 6, 3
* clinched match
