The No. 3 Florida women’s tennis team made quick work of Kentucky in a 4-0 victory Sunday in the Gators’ regular-season home match at the Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex.
Seniors Marrit Boonstra and Anastasia Revzina, who were 53-0 at home during their collegiate careers, made way for an impressive performance by the Gator underclassmen who provided all of the team points.
“We had much better body language today than Friday,” Florida coach Roland Thornqvist said. “We got it done in singles fairly quickly with the longest match taking an hour and 10 minutes.”
On the doubles court, Florida’s duo of sophomore newcomer Claire Bartlett and freshman Brittany Borsanyi posted the first win of the dual match, sweeping Elle Coldiron and Nicole Scates, 8-0. Freshman Caroline Hitimana and sophomore Joanna Mather followed with a 41-minute 8-2 victory against Megan Broderick and Christine Johnston at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point.
Because of Kentucky’s travel plans, the teams decided to halt all matches once the doubles point and dual match point had been clinched, meaning Revzina and freshman Lauren Embree did not finish their No. 1 doubles match while leading 6-2.
Bartlett and Borsanyi then went to work on the singles court, where they needed 46 minutes to tally wins and give Florida a 3-0 lead in the team scoring. Bartlett earned the first double-bagel singles win of her Gator career, sweeping past Coldiron at the No. 5 position. Borsanyi then followed with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Scates at the No. 6 court.
Hitimana provided the deciding victory, downing Minnette Pienaar, 6-2, 6-1, at the No. 4 spot to provide the Gators with the program’s 400th home win. Florida is now 400-25 all-time at home.
Florida (18-2, 8-0 SEC) now sit tied atop the regular-season standings with Georgia, with South Carolina and Tennessee right behind. The Gators final three matches are against those teams on their respective home courts. Florida’s push begins Friday, April 9 at Tennessee and continues at Georgia on Sunday, April 11. The team concludes the regular season on Saturday, April 17 at South Carolina.
No. 3 FLORIDA 4, KENTUCKY 0
Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.
DOUBLES
1. (35) Lauren Embree-Anastasia Revzina (F) led Caroline Lilley-Minnette Pienaar, 6-2 (did not finish); 2. Caroline Hitimana-Joanna Mather (F) def. Megan Broderick-Christine Johnston, 8-2; 3. Claire Bartlett-Brittany Borsanyi (F) def. Elle Coldiron-Nicole Scates, 8-0. Order of finish: 3, 2, DNF. Florida wins doubles point, 2-0.
SINGLES
1. (14) Lauren Embree (F) led (98) Megan Broderrick, 6-4, 2-3 (did not finish); 2. Caroline Lilley (K) led (79) Marrit Boonstra, 6-3, 2-4 (did not finish); 3. Anastasia Revzina (F) led Christine Johnson, 6-4, 2-1 (did not finish); 4. Caroline Hitimana (F) def. Minnette Pienaar, 6-2, 6-1; 5. Claire Bartlett (F) def. Elle Coldiron, 6-0, 6-0; 6. Brittany Borsanyi (F) def. Nicole Scates, 6-1, 6-1. Order of finish: 5, 6, 4.
Records: Florida 18-2, 8-0 SEC; Kentucky 2-16, 0-8 SEC.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Eastern Division Conf / Overall
Florida 8-0 / 18-2
Georgia 7-1 / 11-5
South Carolina 7-1 / 14-4
Tennessee 6-2 / 12-6
Vanderbilt 4-4 / 9-8
Kentucky 0-8 / 2-16
Western Division Conf / Overall
Mississippi 5-3 / 11-4
Arkansas 4-4 / 14-7
Louisiana State 3-5 / 8-12
Auburn 2-6 / 8-8
Mississippi State 1-7 / 9-9
Alabama 1-7 / 8-10
RESULTS
SUNDAY / April 4
No. 3 Florida 4, Kentucky 0
No. 14 Tennessee 7, No. 72 Mississippi State 0
No. 22 Arkansas 6, Alabama 1
Louisiana State 5, No. 50 Auburn 2
No. 35 Mississippi 5, No. 13 Georgia 2
No. 19 South Carolina 5, No. 24 Vanderbilt 2
FRIDAY / April 2
No. 3 Florida 6, No. 24 Vanderbilt 1
No. 22 Arkansas 6, No. 50 Auburn 1
No. 13 Georgia 4, No. 72 Mississippi State 3
No. 19 South Carolina 7, Kentucky 0
Louisiana State 5, Alabama 2
No. 35 Mississippi 5, No. 14 Tennessee 2
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY / April 9
Florida at Tennessee, 5 p.m.
Louisiana State at Kentucky, 3 p.m.
Mississippi at Auburn, 3:30 p.m.
Arkansas at Vanderbilt, 3:30 p.m.
Mississippi State at Alabama, 4 p.m.
South Carolina at Georgia, 5 p.m.
SUNDAY / April 11
Florida at Georgia, 1 p.m.
Arkansas at Kentucky, 1 p.m.
Louisiana State at Vanderbilt, 1 p.m.
South Carolina at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Mississippi at Alabama, 2 p.m.
Mississippi State at Auburn, 2 p.m.
SATURDAY / April 17
Florida at South Carolina, 1 p.m.
Tennessee at Georgia, 12 p.m.
Mississippi at Mississippi State, 12 p.m.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 1 p.m.
Arkansas at Louisiana State, 2 p.m.
Alabama at Auburn, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY / April 22
to SUNDAY / April 25
SEC Championships at Georgia