Although a Gator played in each of the quarterfinal games Sunday at the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships, only junior Lauren Embree will make a trip to the finals Monday after back-to-back wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Embree was in the middle of the second game of her morning match at the Ring Tennis Complex against Georgia’s Lauren Herring when Herring fell to the ground clutching her left ankle. Although Herring returned to play, she only lasted one rally before retiring and meeting Embree at the net to send Florida’s No. 1 seed to the semifinals with a 2-0 win.
“It started yesterday against (Ecaterina) Vasenia from South Florida,” UF coach Roland Thornqvist said. “[Embree] hit the ball marvelously, and she played well again [Sunday]. She played smart when she had to, and overall I feel really good. This is exactly what she needed.”
Embree’s pace and volleys have been key to her success this weekend, which continued with a straight-set 6-4, 6-2 victory against No. 3 seed Jillian O’Neill of Georgia Tech.
“I played a lot better as the time went on, and I played a pretty good player this afternoon,” Embree said. “I had to play well in order to win.”
Sophomore Sofie Oyen also reached the semifinals after starting her day with a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against Miami’s Anna Bartenstein, the tournament’s No. 2 seed.
Although Oyen then fell to fourth-seeded Chelsey Gullickson from Georgia in straight sets, 1-6, 1-6, Thornqvist said he has seen a lot of improvement in the Leopoldsburg, Belgium native’s forehand and confidence since the start of this season.
“It was nice to see Sofie buckle down and grind when she had to just put extra balls into play, and then be creative when the opportunity sort of arose,” Thornqvist said. “Sometimes she tries to be too creative, sort of out of left field, and I think she’s corrected that this weekend.”
Gullickson, who won the 2010 NCAA singles championship, also handed the Gators a loss with her doubles partner Lilly Kimbell on Sunday morning, as the pair defeated Florida’s Caroline Hitimana and Olivia Janowicz 8-5.
Embree is set to face Gullickson today in the finals at 10 a.m., but it won’t be the first time the two have faced off in Gainesville.
“They played here last year, and it was a tiebreak for the third set, so it was one of those thrillers and Lauren was able to win,” Thornqvist said.
“Chelsey, [on Sunday], played some of the best tennis I’ve ever seen her play frankly, so hopefully she’s spent all her bullets, but we’ll see.”
