For the first time in over a month, senior Bob van Overbeek experienced the feeling of winning again.
The senior hadn’t won since Feb. 3 against Furman University. During that stretch, van Overbeek lost eight matches and went from the No. 1 singles player on the team to No. 3.
Van Overbeek led the No. 18 Gators (9-6, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) to a 4-1 victory over the No. 26 Crimson Tide (12-6, 3-3 SEC).
Van Overbeek got off to a quick start in singles and never looked back. He was the first one off the courts today for Florida, winning his match in straight sets.
Billy Federhofer, the only other senior on the team, has gone on a run opposite of van Overbeek's. Federhofer came into the match with an undefeated record since Feb. 9. That statistic remained the same today.
He cruised to victory at the No. 5 spot, defeating Philippe Tsangarides in straight sets as well.
Coach Bryan Shelton credited Federhofer’s success earlier in the week to his versatility in shot selection.
“When you’re not just a one-dimensional player, you can usually find the answers out on the court,” Shelton said.
The Gators made easy work of the Crimson Tide in singles, winning three singles matches in two sets.
Doubles was a different story. Florida ended up getting the doubles point, but they needed Michael Alford and Florent Diep to win a tiebreaker to do so.
Van Overbeek got off to a rough start in doubles when he and partner Stephane Piro lost.
But the doubles point proved critical. In all but of the team’s six losses, Florida lost the doubles point. S
helton said earlier in the week that his team needs to compete throughout the entire match in order to keep up the energy.
“Doubles is the starting point, and for us its not how you start, but how you finish,” Shelton said. “If you come out with six guys ready to go, are chances to win increase."
The team travels to Auburn on Sunday to wrap up its five-match road swing.
UF senior Bob van Overbeek returns a volley. Van Overbeek won only his second match since Feb. 3 against Ole Miss on Friday.
