Freshman Niels Villard captured the win for Florida in a 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men’s tennis team defeated Georgia 4-3 at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Thursday evening. UGA secured the doubles point, but a rally in singles by UF solidified the win. The win marks the ninth home victory for the Gators this season.
On the doubles side, Kevin Edengren<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/kevin-edengren/16662> and Ben Weintraub<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/ben-weintraub/17051> fell Miguel Perez Pena and Gabriele Vulpitta 6-2 on court three. Georgia claimed the point after No. 17 Thomas Paulsell and Ryan Colby defeated Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660> and Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> 7-5. The Bulldogs led 1-0 heading into singles.
UGA extended their lead to 2-0 striking first in singles on court two. No 68 Jin faced No. 27 Colby and fell 7-5, 6-2.
JanMagnus Johnson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/janmagnus-johnson/17174> logged the first point for UF, defeating No. 32 Paulsell in a 6-4, 6-2 straight set effort. No. 95 Ganesan secured the Gators next point, as he cruised to a 6-2, 7-6 victory over No. 43 Perez Pina.
Edengren earned Florida’s third point in a straight set performance. Edengren took the first set 6-4, and mirrored the result in the second to defeat Oscar Pinto.
The Bulldogs pushed back leveling the match at 3-3 on court five. Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> battled Niels Ratiu in a three-set outing. Ratiu took the first set 6-2, but Jefferson regained control taking the second set 6-4. Jefferson delivered his best effort, but ultimately fell 6-3 in the third.
The final point was left up to freshman Niels Villard<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/niels-villard/17561> as he faced Vulpitta on court six. Villard was shut out 6-0 in the first, but took the second set 7-5 forcing a third set. Villard maintained momentum in the extended set to clinch a 6-4 set win.
Singles competition
1. #95 Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660> (UF) def. #43 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
2. #27 Ryan Colby (UGA) def. #68 Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> (UF) 7-5, 6-2
3. JanMagnus Johnson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/janmagnus-johnson/17174> (UF) def. #32 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kevin Edengren<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/kevin-edengren/16662> (UF) def. Oscar Pinto Sansano (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
5. Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> (UF) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
6. Niels Villard<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/niels-villard/17561> (UF) def. Gabriele Vulpitta (UGA) 0-6, 7-5, 6-4
Order of finish: 2,3,1,4,5,6
Doubles competition
1. #23 Tanapatt Nirundorn<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/tanapatt-nirundorn/16114>/Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> (UF) vs. Niels Ratiu/Oscar Pinto Sansano (UGA) 6-6, unfinished
2. #17 Thomas Paulsell/Ryan Colby (UGA) def. Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660>/Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> (UF) 7-5
3. Miguel Perez Peña/Gabriele Vulpitta (UGA) def. Kevin Edengren<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/kevin-edengren/16662>/Ben Weintraub<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/ben-weintraub/17051> (UF) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2
NEXT UP:
The Gators return home at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, April 5 at 12 p.m. Senior Day recognition will begin prior to doubles play.
ITA RANKINGS
As a team, Florida sits at No. 32 in the ITA rankings. Two Gators are ranked in singles competition: Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> at No. 68 and Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660> at No. 95. UF also has two ranked doubles pairs, Tanapatt Nirundorn<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/tanapatt-nirundorn/16114> and Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> sit at No. 23, followed by Nirundorn and Ganesan at No. 70.
