The game could be tiddlywinks – it doesn’t matter. If one team is Georgia and the other is Florida, the competition usually has something at stake.
Sunday, it was no different on the Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex courts as No. 6 Florida rebounded from its 4-3 loss to No. 4 Tennessee last Friday to knock off No. 8 Georgia, 5-2, for Gators coach Andy Jackson’s 100th home victory.
Jackson was happier, of course, with his team’s victory than any personal accomplishment.
“Our guys really answered the bell after coming so close on Friday,” Jackson said. “It showed a lot of character. We were disappointed that we lost the first championship (the SEC regular season), but we know there are other championships available coming up with the SEC Tournament, NCAA regional championships and the big prize.”
With the win, Florida improved to 16-3 overall and 8-1 in the SEC and made Jackson 100-11 at home during his tenure. It also marked the second time this spring that the Gators have topped the Bulldogs (17-5, 9-1 SEC) with the other victory coming in February’s ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
“It’s huge,” said Alexandre Lacroix. “It’s Florida-Georgia. It’s always good to beat them. We have some young guys, but we showed that we have a lot of maturity. The crowd on Friday and today really helped us. We’re all Gators, so it’s nice to have a huge crowd. It’s really something that can change matches.”
“We have one of the best home-court advantages in the country,” Jackson echoed. “It was a very good way to get to 100 here.”
The Gators dropped the doubles point on Sunday, but Nassim Slilam scored a quick victory on court six, downing Will Oliver, 6-2, 6-0, in just over an hour to even the match at 1-1. Seventh-ranked Lacroix struck next, posting a 6-3, 7-5 victory over No. 86 Nate Schnugg at No. 1 singles to put Florida up, 2-1.
Sekou Bangoura Jr. then secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Will Reynolds at No. 5 singles to bring the Gators within one point of the team victory. But Florida’s Joey Burkhardt fell at No. 2 singles to No. 22 Javier Garrapiz to bring Georgia within a point, 3-2.
At No. 4 singles, Bob Van Overbeek of Florida and Drake Bernstein of Georgia battled for 2½ hours before the Gator freshman emerged with a 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory that secured the match victory. Van Overbeek was immediately mobbed by his teammates.
“Early on, my game plan was working about the opposite of how I’d hoped,” Van Overbeek said. “My doubles partner, Daniel Cash, came over behind my court to cheer me on, and that was a big help. When I’m down, I play more aggressively and try to have a big serve to take control of the point early.
“The crowd was great and helped keep me motivated and excited, not that I could’ve been any more motivated to win today,” Van Overbeek continued. “You see that you’re playing not just for yourself, but for your teammates and the crowd.”
Antoine Benneteau captured Florida’s fifth point with a 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-2 victory over Jamie Hunt in a match that took almost three hours to complete.
With the victory, Florida has a chance to finish second in the SEC with a victory over South Carolina next Saturday at 1 p.m. It’s also the final home match for seniors Benneteau and Cash.
“That’s not the accomplishment we initially set out for, but it’s still a very good accomplishment,” Jackson said.
No. 6 FLORIDA 5, No. 8 GEORGIA 2
At Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.
DOUBLES
1. Javier Garrapiz-Nate Schnugg (G) def. (12) Antoine Benneteau-Alexandre Lacroix, 8-6; 2. Jamie Hunt-Christian Vitulli (G) def. (49) Sekou Bangoura Jr.-Joey Burkhardt, 8-6; 3. Daniel Cash-Bob Van Overbeek (F) def. Drake Bernstein-Will Oliver, 8-1. Order of finish: 3, 2, 1. Georgia wins doubles point, 1-0.
SINGLES
1. (7) Alexandre Lacroix (F) def. (86) Nate Schnugg, 6-3, 7-5; 2. (22) Javier Garrapiz (G) def. Joey Burkhardt, 6-3, 6-3; 3. Antoine Benneteau (F) def. Jamie Hunt, 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-2; 4. Bob Van Overbeek (F) def. Drake Bernstein, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4; 5. Sekou Bangoura Jr. (F) def. Will Reynolds, 6-4, 6-4; 6. Nassim Slilam (F) def. Will Oliver, 6-0, 6-2. Order of finish: 6, 1, 5, 2, 4, 3.
Records: Florida 16-3, 8-1 SEC; Georgia 17-5, 9-1 SEC.