Alabama
Florida
Women's Tennis Topped by Florida, 6-1
3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 11, 2011
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The 33rd-ranked women's tennis team (7-4, 0-2 SEC) fell 6-1 to No. 1 Florida (14-1, 3-0 SEC) on Friday at the Ring Tennis Complex. The Crimson Tide dropped its first doubles point of the season in the loss, while freshman Alex Clay won her fourth consecutive singles match, and second against a nationally ranked opponent, as she took down the No. 35 player in the nation in freshman Alex Cercone.
"We knew we had to get into the match early," Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz said. "We had to have the mindset that we were going to be chasing. I feel, for the most part, that we did that. We were right there with Florida the entire time. I think we have to keep in mind that these matches are making us better. This was the closest 6-1 match I have ever seen. When you get to those big points, you have to take them, and to Florida's credit, that is when they capitalized. I think sometimes we get a little bit rushed. Overall, I really liked the way we competed, and we believed we could win the entire time."
Florida got the early lead, but it did not come easy as Alabama presented a challenge for the Gators. Florida picked up an 8-2 win on court two as the 75th-ranked tandem of junior Joanna Mather and sophomore Lauren Embree topped junior Taylor Lindsey and Clay. From there, it would take a tiebreaker on court one for the Gators to earn the point with sophomore Allie Will and Cercone outlasting junior Courtney McLane and sophomore Alexa Guarachi 9-8(7). The Tide would not go away empty-handed in doubles, however, as Alabama's 31st-ranked team of sophomore Antonia Foehse and freshman Mary Anne Macfarlane collected a 9-8(5) win over senior Caroline Hitimana and freshman Sofie Oyen on court three.
"This was a great win for our No. 3 doubles team," Mainz added. "Sofie Oyen is ranked No. 1 in the nation with Allie Will, so she is a top-quality doubles player. Antonia and Mary Anne are playing with so much momentum right now, which is exciting to see. They are really a solid three team."
In singles, the Gators took a 2-0 lead with a win on court five with freshman Olivia Janowicz, ranked No. 34, earning a 6-1, 6-3 win over Foehse. Next to finish was Clay with her 6-1, 6-4 victory against Cercone on court four. Florida won on the remaining four courts with the clincher coming on court two, where No. 26 Embree edged No. 69 Guarachi, 6-4, 6-3. No. 29 Macfarlane put up a solid effort against the nation's seventh-ranked player in Will on court one, sending the match into a third-set super tiebreaker that would eventually go in Will's favor 6-4, 4-6, 10-3.
"Alex decided she was going to take control of this match today," Mainz said. "She keeps playing better tennis. She has a very deliberate mindset and has been dictating the tempo of her matches. She does not give her opponents much opportunity, and she is to be commended for her play."
Next up, the Tide will travel to No. 44 South Carolina. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. CT.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Will/Cercone (UF) def. No. 7 Guarachi/McLane (UA) 9-8(7)
2. No. 75 Embree/Mather (UF) def. Clay/Lindsey (UA) 8-2
3. No. 31 Foehse/Macfarlane (UA) def. Hitimana/Oyen (UF) 9-8(5)
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
Singles
1. No. 7 Allie Will (UF) def. No. 29 Mary Anne Macfarlane (UA) 6-4, 4-6, 10-3
2. No. 26 Lauren Embree (UF) def. No. 69 Alexa Guarachi (UA) 6-4, 6-3
3. Sofie Oyen (UF) def. No. 116 Courtney McLane (UA) 6-4, 6-4
4. Alex Clay (UA) def. No. 35 Alex Cercone (UF) 6-1, 6-4
5. No. 34 Olivia Janowicz (UF) def. Antonia Foehse (UA) 6-1, 6-3
6. No. 125 Caroline Hitimana def. Taylor Lindsey (UA) 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5,4,6,2*,3,1
Players Mentioned
