Gators win Early Battle of Heavyweights, Thornqvist Earns No. 450

Saturday, February 4

Malibu, CA

3 p.m.

Florida Gators

Pepperdine

Ingrid Neel (left) and Anna Danilina provided the clinching doubles victory.

Gators win Early Battle of Heavyweights, Thornqvist Earns No. 450

Saturday, February 4, 2017 | Women's Tennis

With the victory, the Gators (3-0) were able to present Head Coach Roland Thornqvist the 450th victory of his 21-year coaching career.

By: Kathy Cafazzo

MALIBU, Calif. – Top-ranked Florida defeated No. 3 Pepperdine, 5-2, in a terrific, early-season matchup between two of the nation's top teams played at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu.

With the victory, the Gators (3-0) were able to present Head Coach Roland Thornqvist the 450th victory of his 21-year coaching career. His overall record stands at 450-97, including a 375-47 mark in 16 years at Florida.

The match began with the Gators strength this season – doubles action. Florida again stepped up and captured the initial team point of the match with wins on courts two and three, with the action at the No. 2 position clinching at 7-5 behind the teamwork of Anna Danilina and freshman Ingrid Neel. Court No. 1 was tied at 5-all when play was halted.

There were four tiebreakers among the six singles courts and Florida won three of those, which was the difference in the match.

Josie Kuhlman continued her impressive season and was the first off the court, earning the 6-4, 6-1 victory on court four. Her match was the only one Saturday that did not feature a tiebreak or go three sets.

Brooke Austin earned a thrilling 7-6 (9-7) first set breaker en route to a straight-set win and gave Florida a 3-0 lead in the team scoring.

Pepperdine (2-1) got on the board with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 decision on court two, before Kourtney Keegan polished off the dual match win as she captured a 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) victory and the fourth team point for the Gators.

Florida was supposed to have played No. 18 Southern California on Friday, however, rain forced the cancelation of the match.

Post-match with UF Head Coach Roland Thornqvist:
"We played a really good doubles point. It was high-level tennis throughout. This is really, really and deep Pepperdine team. I thought we were outstanding. We competed really, really well. We had four tiebreaks in the first set and we won three of them. In all the roads this early in the season, I don't think either team played at the top of their game but both teams competed really well and we were able to keep our composure.

"Overall, I think we were able to do the right things under pressure. We had to come in, had to play great defense at the right time and keep our poise. I'm just really proud of how we performed and look forward to coming home for a couple of days and then set sail to the National Indoor Championships. Overall, I really pleased with how we competed and how tough we were in the clutch."

What's Next for the Gators

What: 2017 ITA Division I National Women's Team Indoor Championship
Where: Hosted by Yale University - New Haven, CT
When: February 10-13, 2017
Of Note: the draw for the 16-team event will be announced early next week
Official Event Website: http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITANationalChampionships/DIWomensTeamIndoors.htm

#1 Florida 5, #3 Pepperdine University 2
Feb 04, 2017 at Malibu, Calif. (Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. #8 Stefani, Luisa (PEP) def. #37 Woolcock, Belinda (FLA) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3

2. #21 Lahey, Ashley (PEP) def. Neel, Ingrid (FLA) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

3. #30 Danilina, Anna (FLA) def. #22 Sherif Ahmed, Mayar (PEP) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

4. #15 Kuhlman, Josie (FLA) def. Gulbe, Laura (PEP) 6-4, 6-1

5. Austin, Brooke (FLA) def. Runglerdkriangkrai,A (PEP) 7-6 (9-7), 6-3

6. #24 Keegan, Kourtney (FLA) def. Milovanovic, Dzina (PEP) 6-1, 7-6 (7-0)*

Doubles competition
1. #3 Maddox, Christine/Sherif Ahmed, Mayar (PEP) vs. #7 Austin, Brooke/Keegan, Kourtney (FLA) 5-5, unfinished
2. Danilina, Anna/Neel, Ingrid (FLA) def. #8 Stefani, Luisa/Runglerdkriangkrai,A (PEP) 7-5*
3. #12 Kuhlman, Josie/Woolcock, Belinda (FLA) def. Milovanovic, Dzina/Lahey, Ashley (PEP) 6-4
Match Notes
Florida 3-0; National ranking #1
Pepperdine University 2-1; National ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,5,2,6*,3,1)