Gators rally back from 3-0 down but not enough to defeat the Vols
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 1 Florida (20-2) fell to No. 5 Tennessee (24-3) by a score of 4-3 on Friday in the Southeastern Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament Championship Game at the Billingsley Tennis Center.
The regular season champions of the SEC fell behind 3-0 before storming back with wins from Duarte Vale, Josh Goodger and Blaise Bicknell to tie the match up at three, before eventually falling in a thrilling three-set match with Andy Andrade on No. 3.
Goodger and Bicknell were named to the SEC Men’s Tennis All-Tournament Team for their efforts throughout the tournament. The duo remained undefeated on the year at 19-0 and 29-0 overall in singles this year.
Bicknell battled back from 2-6 deficit in the third-set tiebreaker to win it 8-6 and give the Gators a fighting chance.
Andrade came back from a 2-5 deficit in the third set to knot it up at five, but it wasn’t meant to be for UF on the day.
Florida will now await the NCAA Selection Show on May 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET to find out their seed and location for the NCAA Tournament. It was already named a pre-approved potential site to host the first and second rounds at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
Doubles Results: 3, 1, 2
1. #3 Adam Walton/Pat Harper (UT) def. #25 Johannes Ingildsen/Will Grant (UF) 6-4
2. Johannus Monday/Martim Prata (UT) def. Duarte Vale/Josh Goodger (UF) 7-5
3. Sam Riffice/Ben Shelton (UF) def. Giles Hussey/Mark Wallner (UT) 6-1
Singles Results: 5, 2, 1, 6, 4, 3
1. #3 Duarte Vale (UF) def. #13 Adam Walton (UT) 7-5, 7-5
2. #11 Johannus Monday (UT) def. #6 Sam Riffice (UF) 6-4, 6-4
3. #50 Martim Prata (UT) def. #14 Andy Andrade (UF) 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 7-5
4. #56 Blaise Bicknell (UF) def. Luca Wiedenmann (UT) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6)
5. #92 Giles Hussey (UT) def. Ben Shelton (UF) 6-4, 6-3
6. #104 Josh Goodger (UF) def. Pat Harper (UT) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3
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