ATHENS, Ga. – Top-seeded Florida defeated eighth-seeded Louisiana State, 4-0, Friday to advance to Saturday’s semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament being held at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex at the University of Georgia.
It was Florida’s 15th straight dual-match victory. The Gators (22-2) will meet fifth-seeded South Carolina, which shocked fourth-seeded Georgia, 4-1, in the first of the semifinal matches at 10 a.m.
Florida made quick work of the Tigers (10-15) on a very hot day to continue their perfect play in SEC quarterfinal matches. The Gators have advanced to the semifinals all 23 times the event has been contested.
“We played well today. We got off the courts in two hours and ten minutes which is effective timing when it’s hot,” said Florida coach Roland Thornqvist, whose team accepted the SEC Overall Championship trophy before the match after going 11-0 in the regular season. The regular-season title was Florida’s 24th in the 31 seasons the SEC has had women’s tennis competition.
The Gators then lived up to their seeding by winning the doubles point. The No. 4-ranked team of Marrit Boonstra and Allie Will beat the No. 82 team, Keri Frankenberger and Whitney Wolf, 8-1. Freshman Lauren Embree and sophomore Joanna Mather downing Hannah Robinson and Kaitlin Burns, 8-4, at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point.
Boonstra gave Florida a 2-0 lead with her 6-2, 6-1 victory against Nicole Kantor at No. 3 singles.
“I was happy to see (Marrit) Boonstra play at No. 3 singles,” Thornqvist said. “She played well, was focused and moved her feet well. Whenever we play well at No. 3, it’s hard to beat us.”
Will followed at No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Kaitlin Burns and Claire Bartlett secured the victory with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Hannah Robinson at No. 6 singles. Florida was ahead in the other three singles matches when they were abandoned.
Will captured her 21st consecutive win, tied for the ninth-longest in program history. She improved to 21-0 in dual-match singles play and 41-3 overall with her victory Friday. Boonstra earned her 12th straight win, matching the current win streak of Embree, who plays the No. 1 singles position and held a 7-5, 2-1 lead in Friday’s match. Bartlett won her 10th consecutive singles victory, providing the clinching win.
SEC WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
At Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Athens, Ga.
No. 3 FLORIDA 4, No. 74 LOUISIANA STATE 0
DOUBLES
1. (4) Marrit Boonstra-Allie Will (F) def. (82) Keri Frankenberger-Whitney Wolf, 8-1; 2. (69) Lauren Embree-Joanna Mather (F) def. Hannah Robinson-Kaitlin Burns, 8-4; 3. Caroline Hitimana-Anastasia Revzina (F) led Nicole Kantor-Ebie Wilson (LSU) 6-3, DNF. Order of finish: 1, 2, DNF. Florida wins doubles point 2-0.
SINGLES
1. (11) Lauren Embree (F) led Whitney Wolf (LSU), 7-5, 2-1, DNF; 2. (7) Allie Will (F) def. Kaitlin Burns, 6-1, 6-1; 3. (75) Marrit Boonstra (F) def. Nicole Kantor, 6-2, 6-1; 4. (119) Joanna Mather (F) led Keri Frankenberger (LSU), 6-3, 3-3, DNF; 5. Caroline Hitimana (F) led Ebie Wilson (LSU), 6-3, 2-0, DNF; 6. Claire Bartlett (F) def. Hannah Robinson, 6-1, 6-0. Order of finish: 3, 2, 6 (others DNF).
Records: Florida 22-2, Louisiana State 10-15.
Friday’s quarterfinals
(1) Florida 4, (8) Louisiana State 0
(5) South Carolina 5, (4) Georgia 1
(3) Tennessee 4, (6) Vanderbilt 2
(2) Mississippi 4, (7) Arkansas 2
Match 8: (2) Mississippi (14-4) vs. (7) Arkansas (17-8), 2 p.m.
Saturday’s semifinals
(1) Florida (22-2) vs. (5) South Carolina (16-7), 10 a.m.
(2) Mississippi (15-4) vs. (3) Tennessee (15-7), 2 p.m.
Sunday’s championship
Semifinal winners, 12 p.m.
RANKINGS
April 20, 2010
INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
TEAM
1. North Carolina; 2. Baylor; 3. Florida; 4. Michigan; 5. Notre Dame; 6. Northwestern; 7. UCLA; 8. Clemson; 9. Stanford; 10. Duke; 11. Miami, Fla.; 12. California; 13. Tennessee; 14. Florida State; 15. Georgia; 16. South Carolina; 17. Mississippi; 18. Southern California; 19. Texas; 20. Georgia Tech; 21. Illinois; 22. Virginia Commonwealth; 23. Arizona State; 24. South Florida; 25. Arkansas; 26. Virginia; 27. Southern Methodist; 28. Iowa; 29. Vanderbilt; 30. DePaul.
SINGLES
1. Irina Falconi (Georgia Tech); 2. Jana Juricova (California); 3. Maria Sanchez (Southern California); 4. Hilary Barte (Stanford); 5. Lenka Broosova (Baylor); 6. Yasmin Schnack (UCLA); 7. Allie Will (Florida); 8. Laura Vallverdu (Miami, Fla.); 9. Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee); 10. Denise Dy (Washington). Other Florida: 11. Lauren Embree; 75. Marrit Boonstra; 119. Joanna Mather.
DOUBLES
1. Caitlin Whoriskey-Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee); 2. Lindsay Burdette-Hilary Bare (Stanford); 3. Kristy Frilling-Kali Krisik (Notre Dame); 4. Marrit Boonstra-Allie Will (Florida); 5. Andrea Remynse-Yasmin Schnack (UCLA); 6. Chelsey Gullickson-Nadja Gilchrist (Georgia); 7. Gabriela Mejia-Laura Vallverdu (Miami, Fla.); 8. Mari Andersson-Jana Juricova (California); 9. Josipa Bek-Ina Hadziselmovic (Clemson); 10. Lenka Broosova-Csilla Borsanyi (Baylor). Other Florida: 20. Lauren Embree-Allie Will; 23. Lauren Embree-Anastasia Revzina; 69. Lauren Embree-Joanna Mather.