The second-ranked University of Florida women’s tennis team defeated FIU 7-0 Sunday afternoon at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
“I thought we played pretty well,” said UF head coach Roland Thornqvist.. “I was pleased with the way we played and the way were able to get off the court quickly. We are very competitive. We just need to get out there and play.”
Florida earned its first point of the dual match when it took the first two doubles matches. Sophomore Lauren Embree (Marco Island, Fla.) and junior Joanna Mather (Duluth, Ga.) defeated FIU’s KGiulietta Boha and Christine Seredni 8-0 in 35 minutes and freshman Alexandra Cercone (Seminole, Fla.) and Caroline Hitimana (Waterloo, Belgium) clinched the doubles point with their victory over FIU’s Lisa Johnson and Rita Maisek.
UF’s singles lineup featured one junior, two sophomores and three freshman. Embree earned the first singles point with a 6-0, 6-1 decision over FIU’s Christine Seredni in 41 minutes. Freshman Sofie Oyen (Leopoldsburg, Belgium) was not far behind in her 6-0, 6-1 defeat of FIU’s Rita Maisak in 43 minutes.
Mather clinched the win with her 6-0, 6-2 victory over FIU’s Lisa Johnson and the rest of the Gators followed suit with Cercone, Olivia Janowicz (Palm Beach, Fla.) and Allie Will’s (Boca Raton, Fla.) wins, all in straight sets.
“My opponent really fought hard and made it really tricky,” said Will. “She had a good left-handed serve and hit the ball really hard, but I got through it. I am just happy to get the win.”
Sunday’s victory was Florida’s 95th-consecutive regular-season home win, as well as its 86th-straight overall home victory. The Gators are now 8-0 all-time against FIU and own a 186-33 record against in-state rivals.
The Gators will continue their stretch of home matches when they host USF on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m.
Women’s College Tennis
No. 54 FIU at No. 2 Florida
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Final Score: Florida 7, FIU 0
Doubles
1. (1) Sofie Oyen/Allie Will, UF v. Liset Brito/Maria Spenceley, FIU, DNF
2. Lauren Embree/Joanna Mather, UF d. KGiulietta Boha/Christine Seredni, FIU, 8-0
3. Alex Cercone/Caroline Hitimana, UF d. Lisa Johnson/Rita Maisak, FIU, 8-2*
Singles
1. (7) Allie Will, UF d. Liset Brito, FIU, 6-3, 6-1
2. Lauren Embree, UF d. Christine Seredni, FIU, 6-0, 6-1
3. (96) Sofie Oyen, UF d. Rita Maisak, FIU, 6-0, 6-1
4. Joanna Mather, UF, d. Lisa Johnson, FIU, 6-0, 6-2*
5. Olivia Janowicz, UF, d. KGiulietta Boha, FIU, 6-0, 6-3
6. Alexandra Cercone, UF, d. Maria Spenceley, FIU, 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: Doubles:2,3*; Singles: 2,3,4*, 6, 1
*indicates clinching doubles point and dual match victory
Records: Florida 4-0; FIU 1-3
