For the sixth straight season and 27th time overall, the Florida women’s tennis team is headed to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships. Saturday in Linder Stadium at the Ring Tennis Complex, No. 3 Florida beat No. 29 Washington, 4-0, in a second-round match, sending Florida to the University of Georgia, the championship host.
The Gators (26-2) won their 19th consecutive match by claiming the doubles point in 40 minutes and then using singles victories by freshman Caroline Hitimana, sophomore Joanna Mather and senior Marrit Boonstra to put away the Huskies (12-7) who are coached by former Florida All-American Jill (Hetherington) Hultquist, who won the honor four times in her career from 1984-87.
Next up for coach Roland Thornqvist’s Gators is a rematch with No. 17 Mississippi (17-5) at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex Thursday, May 20 at 9 a.m. Mississippi advanced by knocking off 13th-ranked Georgia Tech, 4-0, in the Atlanta Regional.
“I was absolutely ecstatic about the doubles we played because this was some of the best doubles we played all year,” Thornqvist said. “We’ve been trying to be more aggressive and that clearly showed through the work they put in the last three weeks of practice. We beat very good doubles teams.”
The Gators were impressive from the get-go as the No. 2 pair of Lauren Embree and Mather improved to 7-0 with their 8-0 blanking of Venise Chan and Lina Xu. Embree held at love to begin the match en route to winning the first seven points in the 30-minute victory to give the Gators their first win of the dual match.
Then Florida’s fifth-ranked team of Boonstra and freshman Allie Will started almost as quickly, as Boonstra held to open the match over 21st-ranked Denise Dy and Joyce Ardies on the showcase court. The Gators broke and Will held for a 3-0 lead, before UF’s tandem really turned up the heat, breaking at love, Boonstra serving a love game for a 5-0 lead and never looking back en route to the 8-1 victory that clinched the doubles point in 40 minutes.
Once the singles competition began, Hultquist’s Huskies seemingly battled Florida for every point.
“I told my girls that when it comes to teams like Florida, teams who are ranked so highly, sometimes they expect for their opponents to kind of roll over and die,” Hultquist said. “I thought it was very important for our team to come out confident and never quit fighting. That’s really what they did. I couldn’t ask for more than that from them.”
Florida went ahead 2-0 when Hitimana beat Aleksandra Malovic, 6-3, 6-3, in one hour and 12 minutes on court No. 6. The freshman had leads of 4-0 and 5-1 in the first set, but Malovic battled back, breaking Hitimana and holding serve to make it 5-3. Hitimana rallied and served out the set and then opened a 4-0 lead in the second set before Malovic cut her lead to 4-2. The two players then exchanged serve breaks, the last by Hitimana wrapping up the point for Florida.
Then at No. 5 singles, Mather defeated Samantha Smith, 6-2, 6-3, in 89 minutes. Mather opened with a break and held for a quick 2-0 lead. The two traded breaks but Mather broke Smith again in the seventh game and served out the first set. In the second set leading 5-3, Mather broke Smith’s serve and won the point by capitalizing on her third match point.
Boonstra, who along with fellow senior Anastasia Revzina helped Florida compile a 55-0 home record during their four seasons, fittingly got the winning point to extend Florida’s program-record home winning streak to 82 matches. Boonstra closed out Joyce Ardies at No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-4, just a few minutes before Revzina (at No. 4) and Embree (at No. 1) could finish their matches. It was Boonstra’s 75th career singles victory and her 15th consecutive victory this season.
Embree, Will (at No. 2) and Revzina all won their first sets, and Will was a point away from winning her match. Embree and Revzina each were tied at 6-6 in their matches against Venise Chan and Lina Xu, respectively.
The victory ended Florida’s home season. The Gators went 16-0 at Linder Stadium, their 20th undefeated home season.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
GAINESVILLE REGIONAL / University of Florida / Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex / Saturday, May 15 second round
No. 3 FLORIDA 4, No. 29 WASHINGTON 0
DOUBLES
1. (5) Marrit Boonstra-Allie Will (F) def. (21) Denise Dy-Joyce Ardies, 8-1 (0:40); 2. (29) Lauren Embree-Joanna Mather (F) def. Lina Xu-Venise Chan, 8-0 (0:30); 3. Caroline Hitimana-Anastasia Revzina (F) vs. Samantha Smith-Aleksandra Malovic (W), 3-2 DNF. Order of finish: 2, 1. Florida wins doubles point, 2-0.
SINGLES
1. (9) Lauren Embree (F) vs. (15) Venise Chan (W), 6-1, 6-6 (7-7) DNF; 2. (8) Allie Will (F) vs. (10) Denise Dy (W), 6-3, 5-4 DNF; 3. (65) Marrit Boonstra (F) def. Joyce Ardies, 7-5, 6-4 (1:47); 4. (102) Anastasia Revzina (F) vs. Lina Xu (W), 6-4, 6-6 DNF; 5. Joanna Mather (F) def. Samantha Smith, 6-2, 6-3 (1:29); 6. (107) Caroline Hitimana (F) def. Aleksandra Malovic, 6-3, 6-3 (1:12). Order of finish: 6, 5, 3.
Records: Florida 26-2; Washington 12-7.
Next: NCAA Round of 16 at Athens, Ga., vs. Mississippi (17-5) on Thursday, May 20 at 9 a.m.
TEAM COMPETITION
REGIONALS / May 14-15
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY / Waco, Texas / Baylor Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
(1) Baylor 4, Northwestern State 0
Tulsa 4, North Texas 2
Saturday, May 15
(1) Baylor 4, Tulsa 0; Baylor (29-2) advances
OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY / Norman, Okla. / Headington Family Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Texas 4, Wichita State 0
Arkansas 4, Oklahoma 2
Saturday, May 15
(16) Texas 4, Arkansas 0; Texas (19-5) advances
STANFORD UNIVERSITY / Stanford, Calif. / Taube Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Southern Methodist 4, Pepperdine 1
(8) Stanford 4, Fairfield 0
Saturday, May 15
(8) Stanford 4, Southern Methodist 0; Stanford (22-1) advances
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY / Clemson, S.C. / Hoke Sloan Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Georgia 4, Harvard 0
(9) Clemson 4, College of Charleston 0
Saturday, May 15
(9) Clemson 4, Georgia 2; Clemson (24-5) advances
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN / Ann Arbor, Mich. / Varsity Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Ohio State 4, DePaul 1
(4) Michigan 4, Illinois-Chicago 0
Saturday, May 15
(4) Michigan 4, Ohio State 0; Michigan (24-4) advances
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE / Knoxville, Tenn. / Barksdale Stadium
Friday, May 14
Vanderbilt 4, Indiana 0
(13) Tennessee 4, Winthrop 0
Saturday, May 15
(13) Tennessee 4, Vanderbilt 1; Tennessee (18-8) advances
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME / South Bend, Ind. / Courtney Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Boise State 4, Iowa 1
(5) Notre Dame 4, IPFW 0
Saturday, May 15
(5) Notre Dame 4, Boise State 0; Notre Dame (25-3) advances
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA / Berkeley, Calif. / Hellman Tennis Complex
Friday, May 14
Southern California 4, Sacramento State 0
(12) California 4, Southern U. 0
Saturday, May 15
(12) California 4, Southern California 1; California (20-5) advances
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI / Coral Gable, Fla. / Neil Schiff Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
South Florida 4, Texas A&M 2
(11) Miami, Fla. 4, Boston University 0
Saturday, May 15
(11) Miami, Fla. 4, South Florida 0; Miami, Fla. (19-5) advances
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY / Evanston, Ill. / Vandy Christie Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
(6) Northwestern 4, Miami (Ohio) 0
Nebraska 4, Illinois 2
Saturday, May 15
(6) Northwestern 4, Nebraska 0; Northwestern (23-6) advances
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY / Atlanta, Ga. / Bill Moore Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Mississippi 4, UC Irvine 0
(14) Georgia Tech 4, Austin Peay 0
Saturday, May 15
Mississippi 4, (14) Georgia Tech 0; Mississippi (17-5) advances
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA / Gainesville, Fla. / Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Friday, May 14
Washington 4, Utah 0
(3) Florida 4, South Carolina State 0
Saturday, May 15
(3) Florida 4, Washington 0; Florida (26-2) advances
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA / Charlottesville, Va. / Snyder Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Virginia 4, Princeton 3
(10) Duke 4, Long Island 0
Saturday, May 15
(10) Duke 4, Virginia 1; Duke (21-7) advances
UCLA / Los Angeles, Calif. / Los Angeles Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
Arizona State 4, St. Mary’s (Calif.) 1
(7) UCLA 4, Army 0
Saturday, May 15
(7) UCLA 4, Arizona State 0; UCLA (21-3) advances
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY / Tallahassee, Fla. / Scott Speicher Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
South Carolina 4, Texas Christian 2
(15) Florida State 4, North Florida 0
Saturday, May 15
(15) Florida State 4, South Carolina 0; Florida State (16-10) advances
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA / Chapel Hill, N.C. / Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center
Friday, May 14
UNLV 4, Virginia Commonwealth 3
(2) North Carolina 4, Richmond 0
Saturday, May 15
(2) North Carolina 4, UNLV 0; North Carolina (28-4) advances
ROUND OF 16 / University of Georgia / Athens, Ga. / Dan Magill Tennis Complex / Thursday, May 20
(11) Miami, Fla. (19-5) vs. (6) Northwestern (22-6), 9 a.m.
Mississippi (17-5) vs. (3) Florida (26-2), 9 a.m.
(10) Duke (21-7) vs. (7) UCLA (21-3), 12 p.m.
(15) Florida State (16-10) vs. (2) North Carolina (28-4), 12 p.m.
(4) Michigan (24-4) vs. (13) Tennessee (18-8), 3 p.m.
(5) Notre Dame (25-3) vs. (12) California (20-5), 3 p.m.
(1) Baylor (29-2) vs. (16) Texas (19-5), 6 p.m.
(8) Stanford (22-1) vs. (9) Clemson (24-5), 6 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS / Saturday, May 22
I: Miami-Northwestern winner vs. Mississippi-Florida winner, 1 p.m.
II: Duke-UCLA winner vs. Florida State-North Carolina winner, 2 p.m.
III: Michigan-Tennessee winner vs. Notre Dame-California winner, 4 p.m.
IV: Baylor-Texas winner vs. Stanford-Clemson winner, 5 p.m.
SEMIFINALS / Monday, May 24
Quarterfinal I winner vs. Quarterfinal II winner, 1 p.m.
Quarterfinal III winner vs. Quarterfinal IV winner, 2 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP / Tuesday, May 25
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
SINGLES DRAW
WEDNESDAY-MONDAY / May 26-31
Seeds 1-8
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.)
Seeds 9-16 (alphabetical)
Venise Chan (Washington), Denise Dy (Washington), Lauren Embree (Florida), Kristy Frilling (Notre Dame), Chelsey Gullickson (Georgia), Maria Mosolova (Northwestern), Anastasia Petukhova (Fresno State), Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee)
17-64 (alphabetical)
Mari Andersson (California), Selma Babic (Long Island), Josipa Bek (Clemson), Kristi Boxx (Mississippi), Lutfiana Budiharto (Wichita State), Mallory Burdette (Stanford), Holly Cao (Harvard), Fani Chifchieva (Auburn), Marina Cossou (California), Bianca Eichkorn (Miami, Fla.), Aeriel Ellis (Texas), Nadine Fahoum (Old Dominion), Nadja Gilchrist (Georgia), Alexa Guarachi (Alabama), Lindsey Hardenbergh (Virginia), Zaruhi Harutyunyan (Akron), Micaela Hein (Arizona State), Jennifer Heinser (San Francisco), Noelle Hickey (UCLA), McCall Jones (Brigham Young), Michaela Kissell (Marshall), Danielle Lao (Southern California), Marta Lesniak (Southern Methodist), Sanaz Marand (North Carolina), Lauren McCreless (Florida State), Nina Munch-Soegaard (Texas Christian), Denise Muresan (Michigan), Samantha Murray (Northwestern), Diana Nakic (Georgia State), Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV), Catherine Newman (Vanderbilt), Ellah Nze (Duke), Martina Pavelec (Wake Forest), Elzé Potgieter (Texas A&M), Alison Ramos (Southern California), Irene Rehberger (South Florida), Andrea Remynse (UCLA), Martina Rubesova (Northwestern State), Ute Schnoy (Denver), Nina Secerbegovic (Baylor), Pichittra Thongdach (Boise State), Anouk Tigu (Arkansas), Katrina Tsang (North Carolina), Nazari Urbina (Texas A&M), Jenifer Widjaja (Pacific), Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt), Reka Zsilinszka (Duke), Ana Zubori (South Carolina).
Alternates
1. Elisabeth Fournier (Washington State); 2. Monica Milewski (Colorado); 3. Liudmila Vasilieva (Washington State); 4. Maria Sorbello (Tennessee); 5. Krista Damico (Texas); 6. Julia Trunk (San Diego State); 7. Marrit Boonstra (Florida).
DOUBLES DRAW
WEDNESDAY-MONDAY / May 26-31
Seeds 1-4
1. Caitlin Whoriskey-Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee); 2. Lindsay Burdette-Hilary Barte (Stanford); 3. Kristy Frilling-Kali Krisik (Notre Dame); 4. Andrea Remynse-Yasmin Schnack (UCLA).
Seeds 5-8 (alphabetically by school)
Josipa Bek-Ina Hadziselimovic (Clemson); Marrit Boonstra-Allie Will (Florida); Chelsey Gullickson-Nadja Gilchrist (Georgia); Gabriela Mejia-Laura Vallverdu (Miami, Fla.).
9-32 (alphabetically by school)
Alexa Guarachi-Courtney McLane (Alabama); Lenka Broosova-Csilla Borsanyi (Baylor); Lauren Megale-Pichittra Thongdach (Boise State); Mari Andersson-Jana Juricova (California); Suzie Matzenauer-Brittany Blalock (Cal Poly); Holly Dowse-Emma Hayman (College of Charleston); Sophia Bergner-Ute Schnoy (Denver); Anna Redecsi-Selma Salkovic (DePaul); Irina Falconi-Sasha Krupina (Georgia Tech); Sonja Molnar-Merel Beelen (Iowa); Michaela Kissell-Dominica Zaprazna (Marshall); Whitney Taney-Rika Tatsuno (Michigan); Karen Nijssen-Kristi Boxx (Mississippi); Sophie Grabinski-Sanaz Marand (North Carolina); Lauren Lui-Elena Chernyakova (Northwestern); Nadine Fahoum-Joanna Dobrowolska (Old Dominion); Taylor Marable-Hilary Bartlett (Princeton); Ana Zubori-Dijana Stojic (South Carolina); Melissa Koning-Irene Rehberger (South Florida); Valentina Galbarini-Carolina de los Santos (Stetson); Katariina Tuohimaa-Kayla Duncan (Texas Christian); Sasha Kulikova-Kathryn Talbert (Wake Forest); Denise Dy-Joyce Ardies (Washington); Delia Damaschin-Stephanie Dalmacio (Wichita State).
Alternates
1. Caitlin Whoriskey-Maria Sorbello (Tennessee); 2. Lauren Embree-Allie Will (Florida); 3. Lauren Embree-Anastasia Revzina (Florida); 4. Ina Hadziselimovic-Keri Wong (Clemson); 5. Rosalia Alda-Zsofia Zubor (Tennessee); 6. Katrina Tsang-Shinann Featherston (North Carolina); 7. Amanda Granson-Ellah Nze (Duke); 8. Chelsea Preeg-Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt); 9. Elzé Potgieter-Nazari Urbina (Texas A&M); 10. Bianca Eichkorn-Anna Bartenstein (Miami, Fla.).