The women's tennis team is on the rise, much to the delight of UF coach Roland Thornqvist.
Thornqvist said the Gators? improvement is a result of facing tough competition each week, and he hopes it will all pay off down the road, during tournament play.
BI think we really turned a corner as a team this week,C Thornqvist said.
The players must demonstrate their improved play this Saturday at the ITA South Regionals in Athens, Ga., if they want to advance to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in two weeks. The event lasts until Tuesday.
During Thornqvist?s six-year tenure at UF, the coach has had players advance to the indoor championships every year.
BIt?s a great opportunity for us,C he said. BIt?s obviously going to be a tremendous challenge for us to have somebody go deep, but … I think we have players that are playing very well and competing well.C
The coach will experiment with the doubles teams this weekend, hoping to test the players? chemistry.
Senior Diana Srebrovic will pair up with fellow senior Whitney Benik. The duo will be the premier doubles team, but none of the other pairings have been determined yet.
Thornqvist said the players are looking forward to this tournament because it is one of the three biggest events of the year.
He noted that the competition will be very strong at the top but a little weaker at the bottom.
BOnce we get to the quarters and on in this tournament this week, you?re going to play pretty much the same level of players you saw deep in the tournament two weeks ago,C he said.
The men?s tennis team will also be in action this weekend.
They will travel to Lexington, Ky., for the ITA Regional Indoor Qualifying, which lasts until Monday.
The players will try to qualify for the ITA National Indoor in Columbus, Ohio, in two weeks.
Senior Greg Ouellette won the championship in the singles draw last year to ensure his spot in the national tournament.
