SEC Women's Tennis Tournament Day Four Update
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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COMPLETE SEC TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:
Click here for Tournament schedule, live scoring, ticket information, and more!
DAY FOUR RESULTS:
Florida Comes From Behind to Stun No. 3 Kentucky in Tournament Finals
The eighth-ranked Florida Gators (18-2, 12-2 SEC) used come-from-behind wins from SEC Tournament MVP Zerene Reyes and Boglarka Berecz to defeat third-ranked and regular season champion Kentucky (23-5, 12-2 SEC) 4-2 in the Championship match of Sunday’s SEC Women’s Tennis Tournament.
“This was the greatest college tennis match I’ve ever been a part of,” Florida head coach Roland Thornqvist said.
Florida trailed Kentucky the entire match, but things began to turn around when Reyes and Berecz each evened their matches after dropping the first set. Shortly after, Florida’s Nina Suvak and Whitney Benik evened the match score at 2-2 and the Gators controlled the momentum.
At No. 2 singles, Reyes began to dictate the match with Kentucky’s Kim Coventry while Berecz began to do the same in the third set at No. 6. Reyes and Berecz then reached match point almost simultaneously. After Coventry hit a return into the net to give Florida the win at No. 2 singles, Berecz forced UK’s Danielle Petrisko into an error and the Gators clinched their fourth-straight SEC Tournament title.
“I am feeling a lot of pride right now,” Thornqvist said. “I am in awe of these kids. They hung in there and found a way to win. It was probably one of the best college matches I have seen.”
Florida is now 14-4 all-time in SEC Tournament final and is 47-4 all-time in the SEC Tournament.
Kentucky took the early lead in the match by winning the doubles point. UK clinched the doubles point with a win at No. 3 by Emily Foster and Lara Maurer, 8-6. Coventry and Joelle Schwenk also won at No. 2, 8-6. The Cats’ No. 1 team also lead when the match was called.
As the match moved to singles, UK looked to be in control. The Wildcats needed just three singles win to claim the title and were on pace to do just that, winning the first set in three matches. But that’s when Florida began its comeback.
“Kentucky out played us early on but we hung in there and found a way,” Thornqvist said. “I am very proud.”
Tennis Match Results
Florida vs Kentucky
Apr 24, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Florida 4, Kentucky 2
Singles competition:
1. Jennifer Magley (UF) vs. Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) no result
2. Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Kim Coventry (UK) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Nina Suvak (UF) def. Sarah Foster (UK) 6-1, 6-1
4. Whitney Benik (UF) def. Joelle Schwenk (UK) 6-1, 6-2
5. Lara Maurer (UK) def. Alex Liles (UF) 6-2, 6-4
6. Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Danielle Petrisko (UK) 2-6, 7-5, 6-5
Doubles competition:
1. Sarah Foster/Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) vs. Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes (UF) 6-5, unfinished
2. Kim Coventry/Joelle Schwenk (UK) def. Whitney Benik/Alex Liles (UF) 8-6
3. Emily Foster/Lara Maurer (UK) def. Boglarka Berecz/Nina Suvak (UF) 8-6
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,4,2,5,6)
