The Gators will play host to the U.S. Junior National Team today, with action beginning at 4 p.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex.
Coach Roland Thornqvist said the young Gators will get a good test from the visiting team, which is comprised of some of the most talented 16- and 17-year-old tennis players in the nation.
“It gives us an early look at our team and gives us an opportunity to compete as a team for the first time,” he said.
Allie Will and Claire Bartlett will be the only Gators sitting out, as Bartlett has been dealing with a hip injury for several months and just started hitting the ball on Tuesday.
Sophomore Lauren Embree, who played in the No. 1 position for the Gators last season, is still working her way back from a wrist injury that prevented her from competing in the fall.
Embree played only doubles last weekend in the Freeman Memorial Championships and is still not at 100 percent, but Thornqvist is cautiously optimistic she will be healthy this spring.
Despite Embree’s absence, the Gators had a strong fall season and enter the spring ranked No. 2 in the nation, largely due to their excellent singles play.
“We’re actually ahead in singles development than our doubles,” Thornqvist said. “At this point in the year, we’re playing better tennis in January than I could have expected.”
