(TEN) M and W SEC Tennis Tourney

Tennessee was chirping all season, after we beat them in Knoxville earlier in the year. It seems the Tennessee faithful felt we won only because their ace player Johannus Monday was out with a leg injury. The injury kept Monday sidelined until the end of the season. While Monday was out, everyone in the Tennessee lineup had to move up one slot. This was the case when we played the Vols earlier in the season. Coming into Saturday's semifinals the Vols were focused and confident they could once again take Florida out in the SEC tournament just as they had last year. After all Monday was back and everyone below him moved down one slot in the singles lineup. Our guys knew this when they faced off against Tennessee on Saturday. We have not won the SEC tournament since 2016 and there was that Tennessee cockiness that just rubbed our guys the wrong way! In every match the toughness and fitness factor played a huge roll. Our guys were not about to be intimidated or stared down by this Tennessee squad. I could tell as the coin was tossed to begin play in doubles this was a grudge match. After Duarte Vale and Nate Bonetto gutted out a tremendous 10-8 tiebreak doubles win, our guys were in the drivers seat. The scream I emitted when Andrade sealed the deal at number four single was loud. Now lets finish the deal in the finals against Kentucky this Sunday afternoon!

 

Gators looking good so far vs Ky. Win the doubles point and Riffice, Vale and Shelton all win first sets.

 

Goodger wins 6-4, 6-1.
Riffice wins 6-3, 6-3.

Gators up 3-0.

Lot of emotion on both sides.

 

Shelton wins 6-4, 7-5. Hell of a service ace to clinch it.

Gators win 4-0 in dominating performance.

Great to see Gators win a championship.

 

Our kids had no intention of being denied this title. We are unequivocally the number one men's tennis program in the SEC!

 

As of today, Gators are ranked 16th by that stupid tennis ranking system. So here’s to hoping…