Women lose by one, men win big against UCF
No. 21 women’s team falls short 3-4, No. 11 men s team comes up with big win Tennis Photo by Emily Felts | The Independent Florida Alligator
The arriving flights to Orlando International Airport were flying overhead throughout Friday, flying over the nearby United States Tennis Association in Lake Nona, Florida. Below the flights were duals action between the University of Central Florida Knights and the visiting Florida Gators.
The womens’ Gators almost led a remarkable comeback from being down 3-0 but Sydney Berlin fell 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to UCF’s Jalessa Leslier to confirm the Knights’ victory, 4-3. But there to put an ease on Florida’s woes was the men’s team, who slid by UCF 5-2.
No. 21 Florida takes out Georgia State in home opener
The Gators are back after a previously shortened season
Marlee Zein (pictured) defeated Georgia State’s Angel Carney 6-4 on Monday afternoon
The gates to the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex opened Monday afternoon for women’s tennis’ home-opener after nearly a year.
The COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on what seemed to have been a regressing season for the Gators, losing their final two games. But they found a way to start anew against Georgia State.
Florida crushed Georgia State with a clean 7-0 finish. All matches ended in two sets and the closest was between Marlee Zein and Panthers’ Angel Carney, ending 6-4. The rest were won by at least three points.
Kessler and Sleeth highlight inaugural ITA Rankings
Gators rank at No. 21 to start the new year January 15, 2021 | 5:36pm EST
Junior Marlee Zein hits a forehand return against Boson College in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Zein ranks 85th among singles players Photo by Chris King | The Independent Florida Alligator
A week before women’s tennis takes the court, the Gators rank No. 21, according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s 2021 rankings.
Florida’s roster is headlined by two singles competitors, McCartney Kessler and Layne Sleeth, and a pair that sees Kessler again along with junior Marlee Zein.
Florida is one of five SEC teams to be ranked. Other terms include Georgia, LSU, Vanderbilt and South Carolina.