GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Reigning 2021 ASUN Tournament MVP
Kit Gulihur continued her success on the court with a top singles slot victory at No. 20 Florida (1-0), but the Ospreys (0-1) dropped the spring season opener, 6-1, in Gainesville on a brisk Sunday afternoon.
How it Happened
North Florida jumped right into the fray, having the tall task of facing two ranked doubles pairs at the first and second positions in doubles competition.
Anslee Long and
Summer Yardley had a chance to get the victory against No. 46 Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee, but came up just short, 7-5.
No. 20 Florida was able to clinch after sweeping slots four, five and six. It was anyone's match at the first three singles slots, as UNF gave the Gators all they could handle.
No. 32 Gulihur got gritty and won a tiebreaker, 7-5, to take a one-set lead against UF's McCartney Kessler, who started the fall ranked No. 4 in the nation. A 41-minute second set that saw Gulihur win 56 percent of her return points finished with a 6-4 victory for Gulihur.
Despite dropping the opening set, 2021 ASUN Freshman of the Year
Annabelle Davis responded to win 6-2 in the second frame against Carly Briggs. Briggs jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the 10-point tiebreaker before Davis replied to win the next four points. Briggs held on to win 10-6.
Yardley's first outing at the second singles slot pitted her against No. 87 Emma Shelton. A seesaw battle eventually went to tiebreaker, with Shelton narrowly winning 7-5 in the first set tiebreaker and 6-3 in the second session.
#20 UF 6, UNF 1
Sunday, Jan. 23 | Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex | Gainesville, Fla.
Singles Competition
1. #32
Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. McCartney Kessler (UF) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
2. #87 Emma Shelton (UF) def.
Summer Yardley (UNF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
3. Carly Briggs (UF) def.
Annabelle Davis (UNF) 6-1, 2-6, 10-6
4. Alicia Dudeney (UF) def.
Anslee Long (UNF) 6-1, 6-1
5. Bente Spee (UF) def.
Isabel Oliveira (UNF) 6-2, 6-0
6. Sydney Berlin (UF) def.
Sean Lodzki (UNF) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. #24 Carly Briggs/Marlee Zein (UF) def.
Kit Gulihur/
Isabel Oliveira (UNF) 6-3
2. #46 Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) def.
Anslee Long/
Summer Yardley (UNF) 7-5
3. McCartney Kessler/Emma Shelton (UF) def.
Sean Lodzki/
Kendall Nash (UNF) 6-2
Match Notes
North Florida 0-1
Florida 1-0; National ranking #20
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,6,5,3,1,2)
Other Notes
- UNF is 0-3 against Florida.
- UNF has earned at least one point in each match against Florida.
- This was UNF's second time traveling to Gainesville to compete against the Gators.
- This match was Oliveira's first spring match as an Osprey.
- This was Yardley's first-ever match at the second singles slot.
- Gulihur is 6-0 in tournament play and 7-0 overall for the season.
Coach Dunagan's Comments
"Our team battled hard today for our first match of the season. We definitely have a lot to build on for next weekend."
Up Next
UNF goes to Athens, Ga., for the UGA ITA Kick-Off Weekend Friday, Jan. 28.
