When the Gators entered the 2018 spring season just eight months removed from winning a national championship, they were the third-ranked team in the nation.
Now, entering a two-game road stretch on the west coast, they sit unranked with a 3-4 record.
After finishing 1-2 two weeks ago at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, an event the team won last year, the Gators look to bring back the play that won them the NCAA title against Saint Mary’s on Friday and Stanford on Saturday, the latter of which will be a rematch of last year’s NCAA title match.
"I'm excited about both of these matches because both teams present different challenges,” coach Roland Thornqvist said in a release. “For us, we've been playing better, especially in doubles.”
If the doubles are improving as Thornqvist claims, it’s hard to notice. The team lost its last two doubles points against Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech at the ITA indoor championship in Madison, Wisconsin, after winning the two before that against Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, showing a pattern of regression rather than improvement.
On top of that, UF will make the switch back to outdoor tennis after spending its last three matches indoors. The Gators will have to adjust to the slight reduction of speed outside.
"I can't wait to see where we've improved since playing at the national team indoors and how different our games will be actually playing outside,” Thornqvist said.
Hopes of bouncing back for Florida (3-4, 0-1 SEC) won’t be easy as it travels to California. The Saint Mary’s Gaels (4-4) are hot off a four-match win streak and look to ride their momentum to another victory. The match against Stanford (3-2) on Saturday has history behind it.
Florida defeated the Cardinal 4-1 in the NCAA championship match last year on May 23.
With four more road matches left for UF, half a roster of inexperienced true freshmen and the status of injured senior Brooke Austin still unknown, the Gators have an uphill climb to return to their championship prowess. The team’s two matches in the Golden State will be its first test.
Florida will face Saint Mary’s at 4 p.m. on Friday and Stanford at 3 p.m on Saturday.
Follow River Wells on Twitter @riverhwells and contact him at rwells@alligator.org.
Senior Brooke Austin didn't play in a single match during the spring after a mysterious undisclosed injury, according to team officials.
