Roland Thornqvist told his team throughout the season to approach each match individually.
But Thornqvist and the UF women's tennis team have never shied away from looking at the long-term goals they were expected to accomplish, and a big one was checked off the list Sunday.
The No. 2 Gators, led by their three standout freshmen, clinched at least a share of the regular-season Southeastern Conference championship with a 4-0 shutout of Tennessee at Linder Stadium on Sunday.
After taking a celebratory picture with his squad, Thornqvist couldn't help but notice there was less excitement than he had anticipated among his players.
"I'll tell you, in that locker room, that's a tough crowd," Thornqvist said. "They weren't going nuts, and I'm trying to tell them we have to celebrate this in good fashion. Anytime you win an SEC trophy, it's a great achievement."
It seems from the outside as though the Gators have been unchallenged through their SEC slate, now sporting a 10-0 conference mark and a 21-1 record overall.
But Florida's coasting through the conference hasn't been due to lack of competition. No. 14 Tennessee was the sixth ranked SEC foe the Gators have toppled.
Sunday's match ended the Volunteers' six-match winning streak and gave the Gators their 11th consecutive victory. Florida will play South Carolina in Gainesville next weekend, and a win over the Gamecocks will give the Gators sole possession of the regular-season trophy as well as a second straight undefeated conference record.
Masked by the celebration of a second straight SEC title was the remarkable play of Florida's three freshmen.
"I was very pleased to see our three freshmen finish the day for us," he said. "Our other three returners have been rock solid from the first day they stepped on this campus, but I think now we don't always have to count on those guys.
“I think now our three freshmen are freshmen no longer."
Olivia Janowicz and Alex Cercone notched straight-sets wins to give Florida a 3-0 advantage after it won the doubles point earlier.
Sofie Oyen ended the day early with her own straight-sets win on Court 4, and the Gators didn't need their core of Allie Will, Lauren Embree and Joanna Mather to finish their singles matches.
"Two years in a row, and it's an amazing feeling," said Mather, who has risen to a leadership role as the only junior to play significant time. "But we're not done just yet. We're looking forward to playing that last match and trying to go undefeated."
