LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 6 Florida defeated Mississippi State, 4-1, in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals Friday at Kentucky’s Hillary J. Boone Tennis Complex.
With the win, the second-seeded Gators (18-3) advance to Saturday’s semifinal at 10 a.m. where they will meet sixth-seeded Auburn, which upset third-seeded Georgia.
“I think [Misssissippi State] had some rhythm and confidence from playing yesterday,” Florida coach Andy Jackson said. “We were a little bit uptight and rusty, but I thought we played hard and played with a lot of discipline. We can play a lot better. I’m expecting that we have a good chance to play better tomorrow.”
Florida took the doubles point for a 1-0 lead. Daniel Cash and Bob Van Overbeek battled back from a 3-1 deficit to win, 8-3, at No. 3 doubles. Shortly after that victory, the 14th-ranked team of Antoine Benneteau and Alexandre Lacroix won 8-2 to close out the doubles competition.
Lacroix, who is ranked fifth in the nation in singles, made short work of No. 109 George Coupland with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Sekou Bangoura Jr. made it 3-0 Florida when he scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory over MSU’s Max Gregor Smith, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 6 singles.
The clincher came in a dominating 6-0 third-se victory from Nassim Slilam at No. 5 singles, wrapping up the day’s action..
SEC MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
At Hillary J. Boone Tennis Complex, Lexington, Ky.
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 6 FLORIDA 4, No. 52 MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
DOUBLES
1. (14) Antoine Benneteau-Alexandre Lacroix (F) def. (35) George Coupland-Artem Ilyushin, 8-2; 2. (51) Sekou Bangoura Jr.-Joey Burkhardt (F) vs. Daniel Sanchez-Tanner Stump, 5-4 (DNF); 3. Daniel Cash-Bob Van Overbeek (F) def. Louis Cant-Chris Doerr, 8-3. Order of finish: 3, 1. Florida wins doubles point, 2-0.
SINGLES
1. (5) Alexandre Lacroix (F) def. (109) George Coupland, 6-2, 6-4; 2. (113) Joey Burkhardt (F) vs. (62) Louis Cant (MSU), 6-4, 3-6, 3-0 (DNF); 3. Artem Ilyushin (MSU) def. Antoine Benneteau, 6-3, 7-6 (5); 4. Bob Van Overbeek (F) vs. Antonio Lastre (MSU), 6-3, 1-6, 3-3 (DNF); 5. Nassim Slilam (F) def. Daniel Sanchez, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0; 6. Sekou Bangoura Jr. (F) def. Max Gregor Smith, 6-2, 6-3. (Order of finish: 1, 6, 3, 5).
Records: Florida 18-3, Mississippi State 10-12.
Friday’s other quarterfinals
(6) Auburn 4, (3) Georgia 3
(5) Mississippi 4, (4) Kentucky 0
(1) Tennessee 4, (9) Louisiana State 0
Saturday’s semifinals
(2) Florida (18-3) vs. (6) Auburn (11-11), 10 a.m.
(1) Tennessee (24-1) vs. (5) Mississippi (18-6), 1 p.m.
Sunday’s championship
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.