Antoine Benneteau and Alexandre Lacroix will enter the dual match season on a high note.
The 10th-ranked pair left the SEC Indoor Championships in Norcross, Ga. as doubles champions.
They completed a 4-0 sweep by defeating Georgia’s Nate Schnugg and Jamie Hunt 8-5.
Lacroix, ranked No. 7 in singles, was upset by No. 68 ranked Boris Conkic of Tennessee during the round of 16.
Coach Andy Jackson said that Lacroix was very disappointed about the loss, but Jackson noted that Conkic’s limited playing time in the fall gave him a deceivingly low ranking.
Conkic went on to win the singles portion of the tournament.
Freshman Sekou Bangoura’s collegiate career got off to a strong start.
Bangoura swept through the first three singles rounds, his first three collegiate matches. He dropped his quarterfinals match Sunday against No. 8-ranked Eric Quigley of Kentucky.
“Sekou had an outstanding tournament,” Jackson said.
Bangoura is one of three freshmen expected to make a positive impact this season.
He and sophomore Joey Burkhardt also made it to Sunday’s doubles semifinals, where the pair dropped its match against Schnugg and Hunt 8-5, preventing an all-Gators final.
The team got a preview of what stands between them and post-season hardware. The SEC has seven teams in the ITA top-25, more than any other conference.
“We look to be in the mix for the SEC, which means we’re in the mix for the NCAAs,” Jackson said.
The No. 11 Gators begin their dual match season Friday when they host UCF.
Women’s coach Roland Thornqvist called the play of Anastasia Revzina the highlight of the team’s trip to the Freeman Memorial Championships in Las Vegas.
Revzina began the tournament by winning two singles matches and a shutout doubles match with senior Marrit Boonstra.
Revzina and Boonstra dropped a tough match against top-seeded Sanaz Marand and Sophie Grabinski 9-7 in the semifinals of the flight one draw.
Revzina rebounded in Sunday singles play with an impressive win over Arizona State’s Kelcy McKenna.
The dual match season begins Sunday when the No. 8 Gators host North Florida.