Orange's Historical Season Comes to an End at #1 Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The No. 25 Syracuse women's tennis team's historical season came to an end on Saturday afternoon, as the Orange were defeated by No. 1 Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by the final score of 4-0.

This year was the first season in program history that Syracuse (15-9) made the NCAA Tournament and won a first-round contest. Top-ranked Florida (23-2) moves on to the NCAA Round of 16 after winning its 18th match in a row.

"It's been a tremendous year, this team showed so much fight and perseverance all season long and they will be remembered forever as the first SU tennis team that made the NCAA tournament and reached the round of 32," head coach Younes Limam said. "Coach George, coach Lopoo and coach Hicks have had a huge impact on the program. I am very fortunate to be working with what I consider one of the best coaching staffs in the country. The future of SU tennis is very bright."

"We are very exited for Valeria, Gabriela and possibly Anna to be representing SU at the NCAA individual tournament," Limam said.

The Gators got things going in doubles play by winning two matches to take a 1-0 advantage into singles. Anna Danilina and Brianna Morgan picked up the first victory by defeating sophomore Nicole Mitchell and Maria Tritou 6-1. With a 1-0 lead, No. 3 doubles duo Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan beat No. 29 Gabriela Knutson and Valeria Salazar to put Florida up 1-0.

Florida continued its hot streak into singles by rattling off three consecutive wins to come away with the victory. Anna Danilina defeated freshman Dina Hegab in two straight sets by the final scores of 6-2, 6-0 in No 6 singles, giving the Gators a 2-0 lead.

Freshman Libi Mesh impressed in the first round by winning in two straight sets, but today it was her going down in two sets. Mesh was defeated by Josie Kuhlman in fifth singles 6-1, 6-2. Up 3-0, the Gators eventually won the match when it was No. 40 Kourtney Keegan taking down Tritou 6-2, 6-3.

Matches for No. 64 Anna Shkudun, Salazar and Knutson all went unfinished. Shkudun lost her first set 6-0 and won the second set 6-4 over No. 4 Brooke Austin before the match was called. Salazar had also split sets with her counterpart No. 11 Belinda Woolcock, losing 6-3 in the first set before a 6-2 second set victory.

No. 82 Knutson lost her first set to Brianna Morgan 6-3 and was trailing 4-2 in the second set.

#1 Florida Gators (W) 4, #25 Syracuse 0
1. #4 Austin,Brooke (FLA-W) vs. #64 Anna Shkudun (SU) 6-0, 4-6, unfinished
2. #11 Woolcock,Belinda (FLA-W) vs. Valeria Salazar (SU) 6-3, 2-6, unfinished
3. Morgan,Brianna (FLA-W) vs. #82 Gabriela Knutson (SU) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
4. #40 Keegan,Kourtney (FLA-W) def. Maria Tritou (SU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Kuhlman,Josie (FLA-W) def. Libi Mesh (SU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Danilina,Anna (FLA-W) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 6-2, 6-0

1. Austin,Brooke/Keegan,Kourtney (FLA-W) def. Gabriela Knutson/Valeria Salazar (SU) 6-3
2. Kuhlman,Josie/Woolcock,Belinda (FLA-W) vs. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) 3-4, unfinished
3. Danilina,Anna/Morgan,Brianna (FLA-W) def. Nicole Mitchell/Maria Tritou (SU) 6-1

Match Notes:
Syracuse 15-9; National ranking #25
Florida Gators (W) 23-2; National ranking #1 Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,5,4)

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