Gators' Comeback Attempt Falls Short Against No. 11 Ohio State - Florida Gators

MADISON, Wis. – Saturday's opening round of the consolation draw at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor National Championships featured a tightly-contested match between No. 13 Florida women's tennis and No. 11 Ohio State.

Trailing 3-2 late in the match, the Gators (6-2, 0-0 SEC) were able to even the score at three, but weren't able to complete the comeback bid, falling to the Buckeyes (3-3, 0-0 Big 10), 4-3.

In similar fashion to Friday's match with Virginia, doubles action against Ohio State started with no shortage of drama. The Gators fell behind in the race for the doubles point, as Lucia Marzal and Luna Dormet defeated McCartney Kessler and Emma Shelton at three doubles, 6-2.

Florida would again need to claim the final two doubles matches to clinch the point, and thing didn't look promising to start. The No. 27 freshman duo of Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee fell behind the Buckeyes' Isabelle Boulais and Kolie Allen, 2-5. That didn't deter the freshmen, as the pair came racing back to force a tiebreaker at 6-6, eventually taking the match after a 7-5 tiebreak victory.

The outcome of the doubles point rested with the No. 6 team on court one of Carly Briggs and Marlee Zein. It wasn't an easy path for the upperclassmen, falling behind OSU's Irina Cantos and Sydni Ratliff, 2-4, early in the match. Keeping with the theme of Florida's doubles competition, the pair came soaring back to even the match at six and force a tiebreaker. Briggs and Zein would manage to outlast their opponents, 7-5 in the tiebreaker, to clinch the point and give Florida a 1-0 lead in the match.

Singles competition remained a grind for the Gators against the Buckeyes. After having the score evened following a loss on court six, Kessler reclaimed the lead for the Orange & Blue following her best match of the dual season. The Calhoun, Ga., native pulled out an upset over No. 6 Irina Cantos of Ohio State on court one, cruising to a 6-2 victory in set one before earning a dominant tiebreak win in set two: 7-6(1).

The Buckeyes would not go away easily, however, taking the lead at 3-2 after winning matches on courts four and three, forcing the Gators to win the final two matches in order to claim the match overall. Briggs, after falling in her opening set, 6-3, forced a winner-take-all scenario on court two after winning at five singles, taking down No. 114 Lucia Marzel in the final two sets: 6-3, 6-3.

Dudeney, only a freshman, was able to force a third set on court two against No. 21 Boulais, but ultimately the Buckeye pulled away late in the third set for a 6-3 set victory and the match clincher.

Florida will have one more shot to pick up a win at the ITA Indoor Championships tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET when they take on the loser of No. 14 Auburn and No. 16 Washington.

SINGLES
McCartney Kessler def. No. 6 Irina Cantos (OSU): 6-2, 7-6(1)
No. 21 Isabelle Boulais (OSU) def. Alicia Dudeney: 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3
No. 77 Sydni Ratliff (OSU) def. No. 61 Marlee Zein: 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Kolie Allen (OSU) def. No. 84 Emma Shelton: 7-6(4), 6-4
Carly Briggs def. No. 114 Lucia Marzal: 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Shelly Bereznyak (OSU) def. Bente Spee: 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES
No. 6 Carly Briggs/Marlee Zein def. Irina Cantos/Sydni Ratliff (OSU): 7-6(5)
No. 27 Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee def. Isabelle Boulais/Kolie Allen (OSU): 7-6(5)
Lucia Marzal/Luna Dormet (OSU) def. McCartney Kessler/Emma Shelton: 6-2

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Roland Thornqvist
"Another tough loss, but we are fighting so hard. Tennis-wise, we are still trying to find our way, but I'm so proud of our efforts."

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