Brianna Morgan can add another match-clinching win to her list this season.
The freshman transitioned to the indoor court to put away Auburn’s Jackie Kasler 6-2, 7-5 for a 4-0 Florida victory on Sunday at Perry Indoor Tennis Facility.
Morgan grabbed a first set win easily, but the second set had her thrown for a loop.
Kasler kept up with Morgan’s corners to close her two game lead for a 4-4 tie. The two went back and forth, going corner to corner only to tie up again at 5-5. Morgan found her strength and sent Kasler running on both sides of the court to trip her up for two games. Morgan volleyed at the net to send Kasler running to the left corner, where she shot it up to the rafters and gave Morgan the clinching win.
“She’s our little closer,” said coach Roland Thornqvist.
“We’ve always known that she can hit the ball like a pro, but she’s starting to also play like pro. That certainly makes her very dangerous and good for the Gators.”
Morgan’s clinching win is her second this weekend and her third this season.
“It gives me a lot more confidence knowing that in the future I have done it before and I can do it again if we’re ever in that position again,” Morgan said.
With the doubles matches cancelled, second-ranked Florida (13-3, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) had the advantage after grabbing three straight singles wins to put a heavy lead on No. 18 Auburn (14-4, 4-3 SEC) early.
Junior Olivia Janowicz came out fast, taking down Plamena Kurteva 6-2 in two sets.
Janowicz said she came out aggressive in the first and knew she had to continue that mentality going into the second.
Janowicz found her success in an aggressive game, spiking a ball to the corner and tripping up Kurteva at the net.
“Her backhand was outstanding, her forehand was outstanding, and she played the ball deep in both corners really well,” Thornqvist said. “I was very impressed to see that Olivia’s developing not only plan A or plan B, but even plan C. It helps all of us.”
Alex Cercone put up the Gators’ third point, pacing through three sets to settle out Jen Pfeifler at 6-2. Cercone previously struggled in the second, but her strength is in coming back, and she found a way to play full-force in the last set.
Senior Lauren Embree fought tooth and nail for the team’s second point, playing two lengthy sets against Auburn’s key player Pleun Burgmans.
Top-ranked Embree tied up with Burgmans back and forth in the second set, but Embree found her way in and worked Burgmans’ corners to trip her up in three games.
“Where [Auburn] in some positions have shortcomings technically, they make it up with very competitive attitudes,” Thornqvist said.
Florida is now 6-1 in conference play, shutting out Auburn 4-0 to keep up its SEC momentum.
“We’ve gone through a gauntlet here of top-10 and top-20 teams,” Thornqvist said. “We’re leaving Gainesville after a five-match home stand pretty pleased with where we are.”
Olivia Janowicz prepares to return a serve in a match against Duke in 2011.
