Gators Focus Returns, Power Past Tennessee

Sunday, March 19

Gainesville, FL

1 PM ET

Florida Gators

Tennessee

Josie Kuhlman provided wins on the singles and doubles courts.

Gators Focus Returns, Power Past Tennessee

Sunday, March 19, 2017 | Women's Tennis

Final Scores (PDF)VIDEO: Postmatch with UF head coach Roland Thornqvist VIDEO: Doubles-clinching point VIDEO: Josie Kuhlman’s match point VIDEO: Ingrid Neel’s match point VIDEO: Brooke Austin’s dual-match clinching point

Florida improved to 44-0 all-time against the Vols.

By: Kathy Cafazzo

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Immediately following Friday's tough loss that ended the nation's longest active home winning streak, UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said his Gators would be hungry in its next match, wanting a mulligan, if you will. The Gators backed up the words of their coach, as they returned to the court less than 48 hours from that setback and played like an entirely different team in a 4-0 victory against No. 19 Tennessee on a windy Sunday afternoon at the Ring Tennis Complex.

The Gators needed 20 minutes to win the doubles point, as the teams of Anna Danilina and Ingrid Neel, and Josie Kuhlman and Belinda Woolcock blanked their respective opponents.

Florida then raced out onto the singles courts, where the Gators won four first sets, with Kuhlman needing 42 minutes to wrap up the first decision – a 6-0, 6-2 victory, and Florida held a 2-0 lead.

Neel, the lone freshman on the squad, cruised in her first set on court two. 6-0, before falling behind early in the second, 3-0, as she dropped four straight duce points. She regrouped quickly and ripped off the next six games for the victory and a 3-0 Florida lead.

Brooke Austin had a chance to finish her singles match earlier, however, her opponent requested a medical timeout. Two games after her return, Austin polished off the 6-1, 6-3 victory to clinch the dual match for the Gators.

Quick Quote from UF Head Coach Roland Thornqvist:
"We talked about body language today and we were flawless in that regard today, especially in doubles. We played really, really high-level doubles today. What we learned most from Friday was that we have to be good at the little things or you can get punished and that's what happened Friday. Today, we were flawless."

VIDEO: Postmatch comments from UF head coach Roland Thornqvist: http://youtu.be/PA4hlLQrch8

Women's College Tennis
No. 19 Tennessee at No. 1 Florida
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla.
Sunday, March 19, 2017

Final Score: Florida 4, Tennessee 1

Doubles (order of finish: 3, 2*)
1. #15 Brooke Austin / Kourtney Keegan, UF vs. #74 Brittany Lindl / Eve Repic, UT 4-1 [DNF]
2. #11 Anna Danilina / Ingrid Neel, UF d. Sadie Hammond / Gabby Schuck, UT 6-0*
3. #36 Josie Kuhlman / Belinda Woolcock, UF d. Kim Kermet / Ashley Bongart, UT 6-0

Singles (order of finish: 4, 2, 5*)
1 - #19 Belinda Woolcock, UF vs. #51 Brittany Lindl, UT 7-6 (5), 1-1 DNF
2 - #14 Ingrid Neel, UF d. Sadie Hammond, UT 6-0, 6-3
3 - #22 Anna Danilina, UF vs. Eve Repic, UT 4-6, 4-3 DNF
4 - #12 Josie Kuhlman, UF d. Johanna Silva, UT 6-0, 6-2
5 - #125 Brooke Austin, UF d. Gabby Schuck, UT 6-1, 6-3*
6 - #56 Spencer Liang, UF vs. Kim Kermet UT 4-6, 3-0 DNF
Updated Records: Florida 14-1, 4-1 SEC; Tennessee 14-6, 1-5 SEC

What's Next for the Gators

Who: Gators at No. 15 Arkansas (13-2, 4-0 SEC)
When: Fri., March 24 * 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
Where: George M. Billingsley Tennis Center * Fayetteville, Ark.

Gator Pronunciations
Anna Danilina: ON-nah don-uh-LEE-nah
Josie Kuhlman: COOL-mun
Spencer Liang: LEE-aang

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