Caroline Hitimana is dynamic on the court.
The senior has seen limited playing time this season, but a pair of recent singles wins in Southeastern Conference play helped prove her abilities.
Hitimana defeated Madison Rhyner 6-4, 6-2 in singles at Missouri earlier this month.
Against South Carolina, Hitimana earned a second decisive win. Her 6-2, 6-1 singles victory against Josefin Andersson gave the Gators a 5-0 lead against the Gamecocks.
Hitimana is 17-1 all-time in SEC dual matches.
Although the lineup is not finalized for today’s match against No. 12 Georgia at 5 p.m. at Ring Tennis Complex, Hitimana hopes to be given the opportunity to help Florida.
The Gators clinched the 2012 SEC championship against the Bulldogs last season. Hitimana was the deciding factor in singles play.
She held up through three sets against UGA’s Alina Jerjomina and clinched match point for UF with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Getting into the thick of SEC play, Florida coach Roland Thornqvist said Georgia (10-1, 3-0 SEC) is the team to beat in the conference.
The No. 4 Gators (9-2, 2-1 SEC) have won two of their three SEC matches this season. Their lone loss came against Texas A&M on March 3rd.
Thornqvist blamed the loss on a lack of focus.
“We’ve talked a lot to our players in raising our lows,” Thornqvist said. “And I can feel it coming,”
He added the team is growing stronger in doubles, which is critical against a Georgia team that boasts a 53-15 doubles record.
“We’ve never really had three doubles teams play well in one match,” Thornqvist said. “If you’re going to try and win anything, you got to be able to win at all spots. We’re getting closer to that now.”
UF senior Lauren Embree returns a volley from Baylor sophomore Ema Burgic during the No. 1 Gators’ 7-0 win against the 15th-ranked Bears on Feb. 2. Embree has won four Southeastern Conference titles at Florida.
