With every point won on Wednesday, the Gators got some of their swagger back.
After being beaten down in consecutive matches against Georgia and Duke at the ITA Indoor Nationals, No. 10 Florida defeated South Florida 7-0 on Tuesday, setting the stage for its Southeastern Conference opener on Friday against Tennessee.
“It was just what the doctored ordered to get ready for Tennessee,” coach Andy Jackson said. “I think we’re doing much better. We probably are a little bit rusty, but I thought that we hit the ball pretty well.”
The Bulls (1-7) gave the Gators a scare in doubles, as the No. 14 team of Tripper Carleton and Spencer Newman was defeated 8-4. With the point on the line, Billy Federhofer and Nassim Slilam put away their opponents 8-5.
“South Florida was extremely sharp and hit the ball well in doubles. That was a big point, to get the doubles point,” Jackson said.
After that, it was all Gators. UF won all six singles points in straight sets, the team’s first shutout since defeating New Mexico 7-0 on Jan. 28. Junior Bob van Overbeek, playing at the No. 1 singles spot, said this match was a much-needed win.
“It was very important,” van Overbeek said. “Coach scheduled this match knowing we’d have some time off after the indoors, and he didn’t want to schedule a bad team.”
Facing Yannick Yoshizawa, an opponent with an unorthodox game, van Overbeek was able to continue his strong play. Most rallies did not last more than four or five shots, as Yoshizawa relied more on creating spin, while van Overbeek tried to remain aggressive and offensive-minded.
“It was tough,” he said. “His game is not really about looking for offense right away. It was important to make sure I was holding my serve because his game is very unusual. “
Van Overbeek won his match 6-4, 6-3, but he was the last player off the court Tuesday afternoon. Like the rest of his team, the junior will spend the next two days preparing for a demanding SEC season.
Florida begins conference play Friday by hosting No. 19 Tennessee in a match that opens a stretch where the Gators will play four matches in 10 days, including a rematch against Georgia on Sunday.
“It’s just brutal. They’re top 25, they’re off to a really good start,” he said. “They have a lot of young guys that are going to swing for the fences. It’s going to continue like that for 10 matches.”
Florida senior Bob van Overbeek returns a volley last season. Van Overbeek was demoted to No. 3 singles during his losing streak.
