The No. 4 women’s tennis team improved to 6-0 in Southeastern Conference play with a 6-1 victory over Mississippi Sunday at the Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex. The match was moved up to the morning because of a threat of inclement weather.
The Gators (16-2, 6-0 SEC) earned wins at Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6 singles to secure the team’s 78th consecutive home victory and improve to 164-1 all-time in Gainesville against Southeastern Conference opponents.
“We played very well on Friday at Mississippi State, and I thought we had some stretches where we weren’t as good today,” Florida head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “We’re improving, offensively in particular. I thought we were a good defensive team, singles wise, right off the bat in January, but we have steadily, gradually improved our offense and I think you can see that in our play now.”
Florida freshman Caroline Hitimana breezed past Gabriela Rangel, 6-0, 6-0, at the No. 6 position to earn the Gators’ first point of the day.
Fellow freshmen Allie Will and Lauren Embree won in straight sets for a 3-0 Florida lead. Will split the first four games of her match with Karen Nijssen at No. 2 singles two but won the final 10 games to win 6-2, 6-0. Embree swept the first set against Kristi Boxx at No. 1 position, fell behind 1-3 in the second set but rallied for a 6-0, 6-3 victory.
Sophomore Joanna Mather then clinched the match at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Rebels’ Laura van de Stroet.
“(Mather’s) turned the corner,” said Thornqvist. “You can see her athleticism, and the level of athlete that she is, it really helps us. With her racquet speed and rotation on the ball, it’s really difficult [to beat her].”
Ole Miss (9-4, 3-3 SEC) got on the board with a win at the No. 4 singles position, but senior Marrit Boonstra won at No. 3, beating Abigail Guthrie, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Florida also took the doubles point, winning at Nos. 2 and 3. Hitimana and Mather teamed up to take down Connor Vogel and Rangel, 8-3, and Claire Bartlett teamed with Will to beat van de Stroet and Guthrie 8-4 at No. 3.
The Gators play host to No. 29 Vanderbilt Friday and Kentucky Sunday at 1 p.m.
No. 4 FLORIDA 6, No. 28 MISSISSIPPI 1
At Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.
DOUBLES
1. (12) Kristi Boxx-Karen Nijssen (M) def. (63) Lauren Embree-Anastasia Revzina, 8-5; 2. (39) Caroline Hitimana-Joanna Mather (F) def. Connor Vogel-Gabriela Rangel, 8-3; 3. Claire Bartlett-Allie Will (F) def. Laura van de Stroet-Abigail Guthrie, 8-4. Order of finish: 2, 3, 1. Florida wins the doubles point, 2-1.
SINGLES
1. (17) Lauren Embree (F) def. (57) Kristi Boxx, 6-0, 6-3; 2. (9) Allie Will (F) def. Karen Nijssen, 6-2, 6-0; 3. (69) Marrit Boonstra (F) def. Abigail Guthrie, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; 4. Connor Vogel (M) def. (122) Anastasia Revzina, 6-2, 6-3; 5. Joanna Mather (F) def. Laura van de Stroet, 6-2, 6-4; 6. Caroline Hitimana (F) def. Gabriela Rangel, 6-0, 6-0. Order of finish: 6, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3.
Records: Florida 16-2, 6-0 SEC; Mississippi 9-4, 3-3 SEC.