GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of South Alabama women's tennis team fell 4-0 to No. 16 Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Saturday.
 
The Gators secured the doubles point with two wins on courts one and three. Yu Fujioka and Yurie Takanishi were leading 5-4 on court two before Florida clinched the point.
 
In singles, UF won in straight sets on courts three, one and five to clinch the match. Nikola Kohoutova won her first set against No. 81 ranked Marlee Zein but the match went unfinished as the Gators clinched the match.

South Alabama 0, Florida 4
Date: 5/7
Place: Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex (Gainesville, Fla.
Records: South Alabama (22-5), Florida (20-6)

DOUBLES
1. No. 26 Alicia Dudeney/McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Kohoutova/Luminita Tutunaru (USA) 6-2
2. Fujioka/Takanishi (USA) vs. Bente Spee/Marlee Zein (UF) 5-4, unfinished
3. Carly Briggs/Emma Shelton (UF) def. Milka Pasanen/Otoha Aoki (USA) 6-4
Order of finish: (1,3)

SINGLES
1. No. 12 McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Fujioka (USA) 6-0, 6-1
2. Kohoutova (USA) vs. No. 81 Zein (UF) 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
3. Dudeney (UF) def. Tutunaru (USA) 6-0, 6-0
4. Aoki (USA) vs. Briggs (UF) 2-6, 0-3, unfinished
5. Dahlstrom (UF) def. Pasanen (USA) 6-1, 6-0
6. Kleinhans (USA) vs. Shelton (UF) 4-6, unfinished
Order of finish: (3,1,5)

NOTES
- This was South's 13th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
- The Gators improved to 5-0 in the all-time series against the Jags.
- South Alabama won its nineteenth Sun Belt title and fourth title under the direction of head coach Jaco Keyser.
- The Jags won both the regular season and conference tournament title this season.  
- South's 22 wins were tied for the most wins under Keyser. The 2019 team also finished the season 22-5.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Jaco Keyser
- On today's result: "I thought we engaged great in doubles to play a very competitive doubles point. Credit to Florida for jumping on us early in singles and not really giving us any window of opportunities to get stuck into the singles matches. No doubt there is a gap between the two teams but it's our job or rather our goal this summer to figure out how we can bridge that gap. Overall, no regrets about this season. With a 22-5 season combined with a regular season and conference tournament title and the fact that we have set ourselves up for continued success in the future is something to be proud of as a team."
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Baseline Club, the tennis-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Baseline Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's and women's tennis programs. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/baselineclub

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