NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 2 Florida regrouped after losing the doubles point to down No. 18 Vanderbilt, 4-1, on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center.
The Commodores (14-10, 7-6) haven’t had a whole lot of success against Florida (19-2, 12-1), who have dominated the series by winning 44 of the 46 meetings all time between the two programs.
Playing in their final home match of the season, the Commodores came out energized and full of confidence after winning the doubles point. Vanderbilt won matches on court Nos. 1 and 3. Lauren Mira and Courtney Colton took down the 17th-ranked doubles team of Lauren Embree and Sofie Oyen, 8-4, in the top position. In No. 3 doubles, Frances Altick and Georgina Sellyn defeated Danielle Collins and Brianna Morgan, 8-5.
The Gators won doubles in the No. 2 position with Alexandra Cercone and Caroline Hitimana, 8-3, over Ashleigh Antal and Marie Casares.
Olivia Janowicz recorded the first point of the match for Florida with a win in No. 5 singles of Antal, 7-5, 6-1. The loss for Antal is just her third of the conference season (10-3) and fourth of the dual season (17-4).
Florida then pulled ahead, 3-1, after wins on court Nos. 1 and 3. In the top singles position, Embree defeated Mira, 6-2, 6-1. Cercone downed Sellyn in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, on court No. 3.
After weather forced the remainder of the match indoors, (Sofie) Oyen clinched the win for the Gators in the No. 2 position over Colton, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The match marked the final home contest for the lone senior on the team, Megan Gornet, who was recognized before the match.
Vanderbilt’s next action will be in the 2013 SEC Championships hosted by Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., April 18-21.
Singles Results
1. No. 1 Lauren Embree (UF) def. No. 59 Lauren Mira (VU) 6-2, 6-1
2. No. 13 Sofie Oyen (UF) def. Courtney Colton (VU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. No. 57 Alexandra Cercone (UF) def. No. 83 Georgina Sellyn (VU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Marie Casares (VU) vs. No. 104 Brianna Morgan (UF) 1-6, 7-6(5), 2-3, unfinished
5. No. 125 Olivia Janowicz (UF) def. Ashleigh Antal (VU) 7-5, 6-1
6. Frances Altick (VU) vs. No. 120 Caroline Hitimana (UF) 3-6, 4-5, unfinished
Doubles Results
1. No. 21 Colton/Mira (VU) def. No. 17 Embree/Oyen (UF) 8-4
2. Cercone/Hitimana (UF) def. Antal/Casares (VU) 8-3
3. Altick/Sellyn (VU) def. Collins/Morgan (UF) 8-5
Order of finish
Singles: 5,3,1,2
Doubles: 2,3,1