GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fifth-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team had a tough road test against the 11th-ranked Florida Gators. After a very competitive doubles point the Dores couldn’t gain any momentum and fell 4-0 at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville.
Vanderbilt (17-5, 10-2 SEC) dropped the doubles point for just the sixth time this season. After losing 8-2 at No. 3, 40th-ranked Ashleigh Antal and Sydney Campbell won 8-7 (5) over 24th-ranked Sofie Oyen and Belinda Woolcock.
With the doubles point at one match a piece, No. 32 Lauren Mira and Courtney Colton couldn’t pull off the upset over No. 26 Olivia Janowicz and Kourtney Keegan falling 7-5 in the tiebreak.
The Commodores, who came back to win against No. 10 Georgia, couldn’t pull off the same magic on the road.
Vanderbilt dropped four of six first sets, before dropping three-straight matches in straight sets to fall 4-0.
Florida improved to 191-1 all-time at home against SEC opponents with the win.
Frances Altick and Courtney Colton each took first sets for the Dores. Altick won her first set 6-4 over ninth-ranked Janowicz, while Colton took the first set from No. 58 Oyen, 6-3.
Both Altick and Colton would drop their second sets and go unfinished in the match.
Lauren Mira fought back after a tough first set loss and forced the split winning 6-1 in the second over No. 55 Keegan. She would also go unfinished down 0-1 in the third.
The Gators went up 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 over Ashleigh Antal.
No. 29 Alexandra Cercone handed Marie Casares just her fifth loss of the season, and snapped her 21-match win streak with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3. Casares still sits at an impressive record of 29-5 overall this season.
With the match 3-0 in favor of the Gators, Campbell needed to play catch up against No. 15 Brianna Morgan. Down 5-1 when Cercone put UF up 3-0, Campbell held to make it 5-2. Morgan would go on to win her next serve and clinch the match for the Gators.
With the loss, Vanderbilt falls into a three-way tie for second place in the SEC. Joining the Commodores with a record of 10-2 are the Gators and the loser of Friday’s Alabama/Georgia match.
Vanderbilt will close the regular season on Sunday at South Carolina. That match time is set for 12:30 p.m. CT.
#11 Florida 4, #5 Vanderbilt 0
Singles competition
1. #15 Brianna Morgan (UF) def. #67 Sydney Campbell (VU) 6-3, 6-2
2. #9 Olivia Janowicz (UF) vs. #62 Frances Altick (VU) 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
3. #29 Alexandra Cercone (UF) def. #99 Marie Casares (VU) 6-3, 6-1
4. #58 Sofie Oyen (UF) vs. #85 Courtney Colton (VU) 3-6, 6-3, 0-2, unfinished
5. #81 Belinda Woolcock (UF) def. Ashleigh Antal (VU) 6-3, 6-2
6. #55 Kourtney Keegan (UF) vs. Lauren Mira (VU) 6-4, 1-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #26 Olivia Janowicz/Kourtney Keegan (UF) def. #32 Courtney Colton/Lauren Mira (VU) 8-7 (7-5)
2. #40 Ashleigh Antal/Sydney Campbell (VU) def. #24 Sofie Oyen/Belinda Woolcock (UF) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Alexandra Cercone/Brianna Morgan (UF) def. #58 Frances Altick/Marie Casares (VU) 8-2
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt 17-5, 10-2 SEC; National ranking #5
Florida 18-4, 10-2 SEC; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,3,1)
