Lauren Embree is no stranger to pressure.
Last year, with Florida one point away from a national championship, Embree was down 4-0 in the third set of the decisive match.
Embree battled back and won the match and the 2011 national title for the Gators.
This year, the story was a little different.
“I’m glad this one wasn’t as dramatic,” Embree said.
Embree led No. 2 Florida (27-1) to a 4-0 victory and its second consecutive national championship against No. 1 UCLA (26-3) Tuesday afternoon. It is the sixth championship in the program’s history and the first time UF has won back-to-back titles.
“We discovered this year that, without a doubt, it is much more difficult to repeat,” coach Roland Thornqvist said.
The Gators came out strong in doubles action, taking the point in two matches. The team of Allie Will and Sofie Oyen won a convincing match over UCLA’s top doubles team 8-2. Florida’s Alexandra Cercone and Caroline Hitimana won their match 8-5, which gave Florida the doubles point.
“I think we felt really good after the doubles point,” Thornqvist said.
Florida carried its momentum into the singles matches. Cercone was the first to finish and put the Gators up 2-0.
“I’ll say I play my best tennis and I compete the hardest in the NCAAs,” Cercone said. “There’s something about the atmosphere [at the NCAA Championships] with the people and the support that goes into this event that brings the best out of me.”
Cercone was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year.
Oyen was the next to finish her match, as she won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 over the Bruins’ Skyler Morton.
Oyen’s win set the stage for Embree, who had won the first set of her match 6-4. In the second set, Embree dominated UCLA’s McCall Jones and won 6-0, clinching the title for Florida.
“As soon as I saw Sofie had won out — and I was up a set — I knew there was a chance,” Embree said. “Things go through your mind, so you have to stay focused. … But I definitely wanted to finish.”
Senior Joanna Mather had just started her third set and was up 1-0 when Embree finished her match.
“It’s just incredible,” Mather said. “I just can’t believe it’s over and we did it again.”
Members of Florida’s women’s tennis team pose with the 2012 NCAA Championship trophy in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday. UF defeated UCLA 4-0 to win its second consecutive national title.
