The second-ranked University of Florida women’s tennis team defeated No. 66 Winthrop, 7-0, on Sunday afternoon at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex to earn a chance to compete in the Feb. 18-21 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Boar’s Head Tennis Club in Charlottesville, Va. (hosted by the Univ. of Virginia).
The Gators got off to a good start in doubles play, earning the doubles point in just 41 minutes with wins by Lauren Embree (Marco Island) and Joanna Mather (Duluth, Ga.) at No. 2 doubles and Allie Will (Boca Raton) and Sofie Oyen (Leopoldsburn, Belguim) at No. 1 doubles.
“Today was the most focused we have been all year,” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “We challenged them in the locker room before we came out today and I was very pleased. We are a very talented and tough team and if we have that focus every time we go out, we will be a tough team to beat.”
Oyen then went on to claim the first singles point at the No. 3 spot in her 6-3, 6-0 defeat of Winthrop’s Sandra Herrera. Within a span of three minutes, Embree and Will sealed the win with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.
“I played a lot better today,” Embree said. “My serve was a lot better and I felt much more confident.”
Florida played the match out, earning wins in straight-sets in the remaining singles contests to extend UF’s home-court winning streak to 85-consecutive matches.
The Gators return to the court next Sat., Feb. 5 to take on No. 3 Baylor at 1 p.m. at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
Women’s College Tennis
No. 66 Winthrop at No. 2 Florida
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Final Score: Florida 7, Withrop 0
Doubles
1. (1) Allie Will/Sofie Oyen, UF, d. Sandra Herrera/Giovanna Portiolli, Win, 8-2*
2. Lauren Embree/Joanna Mather, UF, d. Yasmine Alkema/Julia Breuss, Win, 8-2
3. Alex Cercone/Olivia Janowicz, UF, v. Elizaveta Zayteseva/Andressa Garcia, Win, 7-0, DNF
Singles
1. (7) Allie Will, UF, d. Elizaveta Zayteseva, Win, 6-0, 6-0*
2. Lauren Embree, UF, d. Yasmine Alkema, Win, 6-1, 6-0
3. (96) Sofie Oyen, UF, d. Sandra Herrera, Win, 6-3, 6-0
4. (30) Joanna Mather, UF, d. Giovanna Portiolli, Win, 6-2, 6-1
5. (22) Olivia Janowicz, UF, d. Andressa Garcia, Win, 6-1, 6-2
6. Carolina Hitimana, UF, d. Julia Breuss, Win, 6-0, 6-1
Order of Finish: Doubles: 2, 1; Singles: 3,2,1,5,4,6
*indicates clinching doubles point and dual match victory
Records: Florida 3-0, Winthrop 3-4