Florida Faces First Loss of Season to No. 5 Michigan
The Gators saw a difficult midweek matchup in Ann Arbor, falling to the fifth ranked Michigan 4-1. Rachel Gailis tallied Florida’s only win of the evening on court two, defeating her opponent 6-4, 6-1.
ANN ARBOR, MI. – The Florida Gators were challenged Tuesday evening in Michigan, falling to the No. 5 Wolverines 4-1. This marks Florida’s first loss of the season and sets their record at 4-1.
The freshman pair Malwina Rowinska and Qavia Lopez were the first to finish their doubles matchup for the Gators, defeating Anna Ross and Lily Jones 6-2. This was the only victory for Florida in the double’s category, with Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee falling 7-5 to Kari Miller and Jaedan Brown, and Carly Briggs and Rachel Gailis being edged 7(7)-6(4) to Reese Miller and Piper Charney in a set tiebreak.
For the first time in the Gators 2024 season, they were entering singles play without the advantage from doubles. Being down 1-0, Florida knew there was a tall task to face against the No. 5 Wolverines.
Michigan extended their lead with the first singles win on court four. Alicia Dudeney was defeated 6-0, 6-0 against Gala Mesochoritou to put the Wolverines up 2-0. Rachel Gailis responded for the Gators winning in straight sets to Julia Fliegner 6-4, 6-1 to get Florida on the board at 2-1. Carly Briggs on court one was the next match to close out, falling 6-2, 6-2 to Kari Miller.
With the score now standing at 3-1, Michigan needed just one more win to claim the match over the Gators. Florida fought hard to stay alive with the final three singles matches all going into third sets. Both Malwina Rowinska and Emily De Oliveira took their first sets over Michigan but fell in their second, meanwhile Qavia Lopez loss her first set and came back to take the second 7-6. Florida continued to hold on before Michigan’s Jaedan Brown increased the pressure on court three to take the third set and defeat Emily De Oliveira 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Brown’s win over De Oliveira punched the fourth and final point for the Wolverine’s to set the final score at 4-1 and leave both Rowinska and Lopez’s matches unfinished.
Singles: (Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 3)
1. Kari Miller (MICH) def. #38 Carly Briggs<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/carly-briggs/16139> (UF) 6-2, 6-2
2. #63 Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16143> (UF) def. Julie Fliegner (FSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Jaedan Brown (MICH) def. Emily De Oliveira (UF) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Gala Mesochoritou (MICH) def. Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16142> (UF) 6-0, 6-0
5. Lily Jones (MICH) vs. Qavia Lopez<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/qavia-lopez/16283> (UF) 6-4, 6-7, 2-1, unfinished
6. Piper Charney (MICH) vs. Malwina Rowinska<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/malwina-rowinska/16397> (UF) 1-6, 7-6, 5-1, unfinished
Doubles: (Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3)
1. Kari Miller/Jaedan Brown (MICH) def. Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16144> /Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16142> (UF) 7-5
2. Malwina Rowinska<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/malwina-rowinska/16397> /Qavia Lopez<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/qavia-lopez/16283> (UF) def. Anna Moss/Lily Jones (MICH) 6-2
3. Reese Miller/Piper Charney (MICH) def.Carly Briggs<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/carly-briggs/16139> /Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16143> (UF) 7-6
NEXT UP:
The Gators will travel to Seattle, Washington and play at ITA National Indoors. The tournament will span over Feb. 9 – Feb.12 and feature the top 16 teams in the nation.
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