UF WTN: Florida Takes Down No. 1 Seed to Earn Spot in NCAA Quarterfinals

Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16981> and Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> are the first Gators pair since 2017 to earn a spot in the NCAA quarterfinals.

WACO, Texas- Florida’s Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16981> upset the No. 1 seed 6-4, 6-3, Thursday afternoon in the NCAA Championship Tournament. The round of 16 victory was over UCLA’s Elise Wagle and Kimmi Hance.

Thursday’s victory also gave Gailis and Dudeney All-American status. The Florida duo earns the prestigious honor as they stand among the nation’s final eight pairs.

Since being paired together in the fall of 2024, Gailis and Dudeney have gone undefeated, boasting a 7-0 record. The pair now finds themselves in Friday’s Elite Eight where they will take on Duke’s Elizabeth Coleman and Irina Balus.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Dudeney and Gailis made a statement early, breaking UCLA’s serve to garner an immediate 1-0 advantage. The No. 1 seed fought back to tie up the Gators at 1-1 and from there the first set went back and forth. Florida ultimately pulled after being tied at 4-4 and won the first set 6-4 off a service ace from Gailis.

The Gators held the lead over UCLA for the entirety of the second set before closing out at 6-3. During set two Florida saw three different games reach a deciding point at deuce, but Dudeney and Gailis didn’t flinch. The Gators duo remained composed to secure their biggest victory to date, over the top-seeded Bruins

DOUBLES COACH SAYS:
Doubles coach Sam Mannix on what it means for Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16981> and Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> to make the quarterfinals and be named All-Americans:
“After all their hard work this fall, it is amazing to see Liss and Rachel earn All-American status. With Liss being a senior and Rachel being a junior, it means even more for them to work together and use their combined experience. They are very excited to get back out there tomorrow and compete for a chance in the semifinals.”

FLORIDA’S DOUBLES HISTORY AT NCAA’S:
2021-2022 Season

* Carly Briggs<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/carly-briggs/16139> and Marlee Zein (No.23) made it to the round of 32
* Lost first round to Ava Hrastar and Kylie Bilchev (No. 36), 7-6(2), 6-4
2017-2018 Season

* Anna Danilina and Victoria Emma (No. 17) made it to the round of 32
* Lost first round to Vladica Babic and Sofia Blanco (No. 14), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
2016-2017 Season

* Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan (No. 20) made it to the quarterfinals
* Lost in the quarterfinals to Maya Jansen and Maegan Manasse (No. 34), 7-6 (3)
2015-2016 Season

* Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan won the NCAA Doubles Championships
* Defeated Maegan Manasse and Denise Starr

NEXT UP:

* Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16981>/Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> vs. Elizabeth Coleman/Irina Balus (Duke)
* NCAA Doubles Quarterfinals
* Date: Friday, Nov. 22
* Match Time: TBA
* Site: Baylor University’s Hurd Tennis Center
* Watch: ESPN+<https://www.espn.com/espnplus/collections/cf992aa3-b869-4996-a55a-a59c769bfc07/tennis-live-upcoming>
* Doubles Draw<https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/11/16/24-25%20W%20Doubles.pdf>
* Live Stats<https://ioncourt.com/tournaments/6739fbf93c78a1ac37fbea2b/live-score>
* Baylor’s NCAA Championship Site<https://baylorbears.com/feature/NCAATennis2425>
Friday’s meeting will mark the first face-off between the Florida and Duke pairings.