The Florida women’s tennis team has done well against top-ranked teams.
Last time it went up against a No. 1 team, it was in the 2014 NCAA Team Quarterfinals against Georgia in a 4-1 victory.
Against No. 1 teams, the Gators are 9-8 all-time.
This weekend, Florida will look to improve that record.
In its toughest challenge this season, No. 7 Florida (5-0) travels to Berkeley, California, to take on No. 1 California (9-0) at the Hellman Tennis Complex at 3 today.
"I think Cal, they won indoors, they played Southern Cal, which is a common opponent and beat them 6-1. So they’ve certainly shown they have quality players," coach Roland Thornqvist said Really, really good players in every spot, so it’s going to be great for us."
The matchup is part of a two game road trip during which the Gators will also face No. 16 Stanford on Sunday.
Historically, Florida has done well against the Bears.
UF boasts a 6-0 record against California — its last win coming in 2013 against a then-No. 8 California team, 4-2.
In order to extend that record, though, the Gators will need to play even better than they have so far this season.
The Bears are led by No. 5 Klara Fabikova and No. 10 Maegan Manasse in singles and the No. 6 pairing of Manasse and BeliDenise Starr. California also has two more rankings in singles, with No. 80 Starr and No. 96 Olivia Hauger, and another doubles ranking in No. 52 Fabikova and Hauger.
In singles, the Gators have six players ranked in No. 6 junior Belinda Woolcock, No. 12 sophomore Brooke Austin, No. 30 junior Kourtney Keegan, No. 67 sophomore Anna Danilina, No. 72 sophomore Josie Kuhlman and No. 88 senior Brianna Morgan.
The Gators have yet to drop the doubles point, something that could be in jeopardy this weekend.
With the No. 7 tandem of Austin and Keegan and the No. 19 duo of Kuhlman and Woolcock, today’s doubles point will be heavily contested.
"We’ve played fantastic tennis, we haven’t really been tested as much as I perhaps would’ve hoped," Thornqvist said. "And I don’t know if it’s because we’re that good or whatever, but we’ll find out this weekend for sure."
Contact Jake Dreilinger at jdreilinger@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @DreilingerJake.
UF's Belinda Woolcock returns the ball with a forehand during Florida's 6-1 win over USF on Jan. 21, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.
