April 19, 2008
AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 12 Vanderbilt (18-5, 7-4 SEC) women’s tennis team picked up singles victories from seniors Amanda Taylor and Taka Bertrand, but it wasn’t enough as No. 5 Florida (20-1, 11-0 SEC) claimed a 4-2 victory in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Florida jumped out to an early lead by capturing the doubles point. The 50th-ranked duo of Julia Cohen and Anastasia Revzina struck the first blow for Florida, defeating Taka Bertrand and Keilly Ulery 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.
The Gator tandem of Whitney Benik and Csilla Borsanyi clinched the doubles point for Florida with an 8-3 victory over Vanderbilt’s Caroline Ferrell and Catherine Newman at the second doubles position.
The match between No. 6 Megan Alexander and Marrit Boonstra and VU’s No. 29 Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery at No. 1 doubles was suspended with Florida leading 7-5 when the doubles point was decided.
Florida extended its lead to 2-0 when Boonstra defeated No. 62 Courtney Ulery in straight sets. Boonstra won the opening set 6-2, and captured the second set 6-0 for the win.
Vanderbilt registered its first point of the match at No. 1 singles. No. 23 Taylor had no trouble with SEC Freshman of the Year and No. 27 Cohen, winning 6-2, 6-0. Taylor ran her singles winning streak to eight and improved to 19-4 in dual match play.
No. 118 Bertrand’s win at No. 3 singles squared the match at two. The Vanderbilt senior won 6-3, 6-2 over Benik to improve her dual match record to 20-3.
The Gators regained the advantage with Lolita Frangulyan’s win at No. 6 singles over Ferrell. Frangulyan won the opening set 6-2, and was victorious in the second set 7-5.
Florida clinched the match with No. 33 Borsanyi’s win at No. 2 singles over No. 46 Newman. Borsanyi won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to send the Gators into the championship match.
The singles match between No. 110 Revzina and Keilly Ulery was suspended when Florida clinched the match. Ulery won the opening set 7-6 (2), but Revzina battled back to win the second set 6-2. Revzina had a 3-1 advantage in the third set when the match was stopped.
Florida now leads the overall series against Vanderbilt 35-2 and is a perfect 9-0 against the Commodores when the two teams meet in the SEC Tournament.
Vanderbilt will find out its first round NCAA opponent on April 29. The selection show is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on ESPNEWS.
Saturday’s Results:
No. 5 Florida 4 def. No. 12 Vanderbilt 2
Doubles:
1. No. 6 Megan Alexander/Marrit Boonstra (UF) vs. No. 29 Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) – 7-5 (unfinished)
2. Whitney Benik/Csilla Borsanyi (UF) def. Caroline Ferrell/Catherine Newman (VU) – 8-3
3. No. 50 Julia Cohen/Anastasia Revzina (UF) def. Taka Bertrand/Keilly Ulery (VU) – 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2
Singles:
1. No. 23 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. No. 27 Julia Cohen (UF) – 6-2, 6-0
2. No. 33 Csilla Borsanyi (UF) def. No. 46 Catherine Newman (VU) – 6-3, 6-4
3. No. 118 Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Whitney Benik (UF) – 6-3, 6-2
4. Marrit Boonstra (UF) def. No. 62 Courtney Ulery (VU) – 6-2, 6-0
5. No. 110 Anastasia Revzina (UF) vs. Keilly Ulery (VU) – 6-7 (2), 6-2, 3-1 (unfinished)
6. Lolita Frangulyan (UF) def. Caroline Ferrell (VU) – 6-2, 7-5
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 3, 6, 2
Updated Team Records: Florida (20-1, 11-0 SEC); Vanderbilt (18-5, 7-4 SEC)
