Strong quarterfinal efforts from the Gators doubles squads set the stage for an All-Gator semi-final match.
LAKE NONA, Fla. – The ITA Southeast Regional Championships will feature one all-Florida doubles semi-final match after strong play from the Gators in quarterfinal action.
Both remaining Gator doubles squads in the main draw will represent the UF faithful in the semi-finals on Sunday. The pair of Alicia Dudeney and Sydney Berlin began their day with an 8-5 victory over Central Florida’s Marie Mattel and Nandini Sharma. Florida upperclassmen, Carly Briggs and Marlee Zein, overtook ACC-foes Diana Khodan and Maya Tahan of Miami, 8-4.
The victories from the Blue & Orange have ensured a trip to the ITA Southeast Regional doubles championship on the line when the friendly foes meet.
In singles competition, No. 84 Emma Shelton was the lone UF athlete to advance into Sunday’s quarterfinal round. Using consistent play in her match, Shelton earned her first ranked victory of season over Georgia Tech’s No. 65 Ava Hrastar – 6-3, 6-3. She will meet Georgia’s Ania Hertel in the quarterfinals.
MAIN DRAW DAY TWO SINGLES
No. 80 Evgeniya Levashova def. No. 41 Carly Briggs: 6-1, 6-2
Marie Mattel def. Alicia Dudeney: 7-6(5), 6-1
No. 84 Emma Shelton def. No. 65 Ava Hrastar (Georgia Tech): 6-3, 6-3
MAIN DRAW DAY TWO DOUBLES
Briggs/Zein def. Khodan/Tahan (Miami): 8-4
Dudeney/Berlin def. Mattel/Sharma (Central Florida): 8-5
MAIN DRAW DOUBLES DAY TWO CONSOLATION
Sharabura/Lee (Georgia Tech) def. Shelton/Spee: 8-2
MAIN DRAW DAY ONE SINGLES
No. 41 Carly Briggs def. Monika Dedaj (Georgia Tech): 6-3, 6-3
Sydney Berlin def. Audrey Boch-Collins (Miami): 7-6(4), 6-4
Alicia Dudeney def. Selene Kentish (Bethune Cookman): 6-0, 6-1
Bente Spee def. Amber McGinnis (Florida Atlantic): 6-1, 6-2
No. 64 Marlee Zein def. Fanny Nornin (Florida Gulf Coast): 6-1, 6-4
No. 84 Emma Shelton def. Noa Cohen (Stetson): 6-1, 6-3
Mell Reasco (Georgia) def. Bente Spee: 7-5, 6-3
Catherine Guliher (North Florida) def. No. 64 Marlee Zein: 6-3, 6-4
No. 66 Morgan Coppoc (Georgia) def. Sydney Berlin: 6-3, 6-3
No. 41 Carly Briggs def. Vic Allen (Florida State): 6-1, 6-7(1), 6-0
No. 84 Emma Shelton def. Isabel Oliveira (North Florida): 7-5, 6-2
Alicia Dudeney def. No. 94 Gia Cohen (Georgia Tech): 6-2, 6-0
MAIN DRAW DAY ONE DOUBLES
Briggs/Zein def. Tillitt/Courville (Mercer): 8-2
Dudeney/Berlin def. Cohen/Garcia Gross (Georgia Tech): 8-4
Umarova/Kabbaj (Florida International) def. Shelton/Spee: 8-2
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Roland Thronqvist
On the Gators doubles’ performance…
“We have really showed improvement in our doubles play and today was an excellent display of some new skill. We played disciplined with very few unforced errors. Couple that with a better understanding of the offensive side of doubles and you have teams that are tough to beat.”
On Shelton moving on to the quarterfinals…
“In singles, Emma played some great tennis. She has worked hard on her offense and it’s showing this week.”
On Saturday’s overall efforts…
“Overall, we feel good abut what we are seeing in the development of our team. This is a close-knit group that really cares for one another, which is going to prove super important in the spring.”
NOTEABLES
– Shelton’s victory over No. 65 Hrastar marked her first ranked win of the fall campaign.
– On the season, Shelton improved her singles record to 6-1.
– Berlin and Dudeny, sit at 3-0 as a doubles pair while Briggs and Zein improved to 2-0.
– Dudeney’s doubles record improved to 8-3 in the fall while Berlin now owns three victories at 3-3.
– Briggs’ fall doubles record moved to 5-1 and Zein earned her second win of the season.
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