FINAL QUALIFYING MATCH SCORES HERE.<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/9/24/Final_Qualifying_Results.pdf>
Dudeney and Neilson-Gatenby Fall in Qualifiers Round of 32
Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> fell to their respective opponents in the ITA All-Americans round of 32 to close out their time in Cary, N.C.
CARY, N.C.- Florida was represented by Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> at ITA All-Americans on Tuesday afternoon. The Gators made it to the singles round of 32 after winning their singles contests on day one of qualifiers.
Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> kicked off the day with a 12:30 pm matchup against NC State’s Gabia Paskauskas. Dudeney was challenged from the start and shortly found herself trailing 5-1 to Paskauskas in the first set. However, Dudeney dug deep to make an incredible comeback, winning four games straight to tie the score at 5-5. In her pursuit to stay in the contest, Dudeney fought off several set points in favor of NC State reflecting her grit as a senior leader.
Once at 5-5, NC state pulled ahead again at 6-5 before Dudeney tied it up at six games all to force a tiebreaker. With her momentum on full display Dudeney soared through the first set tiebreak to close out 7(7)-6(2). The following two sets were also neck in neck but fell in favor of NC State at 7-5, 7-5. Dudeney was ultimately defeated 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 7-5, but her performance was nothing short of tough.
The second and final Florida matchup of the day was No. 122 Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> versus Leonie Moeller of Memphis. Neilson-Gatenby also saw signs of a challenge in set one falling 7-5 to Moeller. After losing her initial set, Neilson-Gatenby began to get more comfortable on the collegiate stage pulling ahead to take the second set 6-2.
With one set apiece, pressure was felt in the third and final set with a ticket to the main draw on the line. Freshman Neilson-Gatenby approached the set with an all-out effort but it wasn’t enough to overtake sophomore Leonie Moeller. Moeller closed out at 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 giving Neilson-Gatenby her first loss in Cary, N.C.
Due to the length of Dudeney’s singles match her doubles contest alongside Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> resulted in a Florida loss by walkover.
The main draw of ITA All-Americans will begin Wednesday with Florida’s Emily De Oliveira<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/emily-de-oliveira/16979> competing. De Oliveira received a main draw entry after winning the ITA regionals in the fall of 2023 and holding a top-30 ranking. De Oliveira will take on South Carolina’s Sarah Hamner who is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation. The match time has yet to be determined.
Head Coach Roland Thornqvist<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/coaches/roland-thornqvist/1919> Says:
Coach Thornqvist on Alicia Dudeney’s<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> progress after injury and on-court battle:
“Lissy continues her journey back from her injuries and although she’s super disappointed with the loss, she is showing clear signs of improvement.”
Coach Thornqvist on Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> and her ability to fight as a freshman:
“Talia is going to be one of the best players in the country with time. She is very similar to Rachel in that the more she plays in this arena, the more comfortable she will be.”
Coach Thornqvist on the importance of reps and the near future of Dudeney and Neilson-Gatenby:
“There is no substitute to playing and we will see both of them in more events very soon.”
Wed. (9/25) Main Draw Schedule:
Singles Round of 64 (time TBD):
No. 29 Emily De Oliveira<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/emily-de-oliveira/16979> vs. No. 10 Sarah Hamner (South Carolina)
Match Coverage:
Tournament Page<https://wearecollegetennis.com/ita-womens-all-american-championships/>
The Draw<https://colleges.wearecollegetennis.com/Competitions/ITA/Tournaments/Overview/99ac22fb-6f27-407e-b570-66c41fbab1db>
Live Stream<https://web.playsight.com/facility/town-of-cary/home>
Day Two Qualifying Results (9/24):
Singles:
r32 Gabia Paskauskas (NC STATE) def. #103 Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> (Florida) 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 7-5
r32 Leonie Moeller (MEMPHIS) def. #122 Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> (Florida) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles:
c16 #88 Alejandra Cruz/Given Roach (Georgia Tech ) def. Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980>/Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> (Florida), walkover
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