The No. 19 Gators were defeated 4-1 by fellow SEC team, No. 22 LSU. The Sunday loss puts Florida at 2-1 in non-conference play.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 19 Gators took their first loss of the season, falling 4-1 to No. 22 LSU. The Sunday match was on UF’s home courts and was the final contest of the ITA Kickoff Championship Weekend.
The Tigers took the early advantage and secured the doubles point for LSU. Tilwith Di Girolami and Anita Sahdiieva defeated Florida’s Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> and Noemie Oliveras on court two with a final score of 6-2. On court three Emily De Oliveira<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/emily-de-oliveira/16979> and Nikola Daubnerova<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/nikola-daubnerova/16984> attempted a late comeback after starting down 4-1. Despite their efforts on court three they eventually fell 6-4 to LSU’s Kenna Erickson and Gaby Rivera.
Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> were tied up at 6-6 and about to head into a tiebreaker against LSU’s Kayla Cross and Cadence Brace. However, court one was left unfinished as LSU took the doubles point before the set tiebreaker could play out.
In singles, Florida quickly evened the score to 1-1, notching the first singles point from a straight set victory (6-1, 6-1) by Oliveras over No. 120 Gaby Rivera. LSU responded with a straight set victory of their own as Di Girolami defeated Neilson-Gatenby 7-5, 6-2 to put the Tigers ahead once more.
Once the score stood at 2-1 in favor of the Tigers, LSU began to extend the lead even further. LSU’s Cross followed up with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win over De Olivera to put the Tigers one point away from victory. The coveted fourth point came minutes later when No. 125 Anita Sahdiieva defeated Daubnerova 6-0, 7-5 to secure the dual match win for LSU.
Dudeney and Spee were in the midst of heated back-and-forth matches when LSU won the final point. On court one Dudeney led LSU’s Brace 6-1, 1-6, 4-2 before the match was rendered unfinished. On court five Spee battled to stay alive against LSU’s Kinaa Graham, with the latter leading 6-4, 6-5 before play ended.
FINAL RESULTS:
Final Singles Results:
1. Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> (UF) vs. Cadence Brace (LSU) 1-6, 6-1, 4-2, unfinished
2. Kayla Cross (LSU) def. Emily de Oliveira (UF) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
3. Tilwith Di Girolami (LSU) def. Talia NeilsonGatenby (UF) 7-5, 6-2
4. #125 Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) def. Nikola Daubnerova<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/nikola-daubnerova/16984> (UF) 6-0, 7-5
5. Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> (UF) vs. Kinaa Graham (LSU) 4-6, 5-6, unfinished
6. Noemie Oliveras (UF) def. #120 Gaby Rivera (LSU) 6-1, 6-1
Final Doubles Results:
1. Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980>/Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> (UF) vs. Kayla Cross/Cadence Brace (LSU) 6-6, unfinished
2. Tilwith Di Girolami/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) def. Talia NeilsonGatenby/Noemie Oliveras (UF) 6-2
3. Kenna Erickson/Gaby Rivera (LSU) def. Nikola Daubnerova<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/nikola-daubnerova/16984>/Emily de Oliveira (UF) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,3,2,4)
UP NEXT:
For the Gators next contest, they will travel to Ann Arbor and face No. 8 Michigan on Feb. 4. The dual match will be Florida’s third-consecutive contest against a ranked opponent, and their final test before SEC play begins.
FLORIDA IN THE RANKS:
The Gators currently sit at No. 19 in the ITA rankings and No. 4 in the SEC preseason coaches’ poll. UF is also represented in the doubles category with Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16981> sitting at No. 3.
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