Four University of Florida women’s tennis players were selected to compete in the ITA All-American Championships in Cary, North Carolina. After beginning play on Sept. 21, the Gators wrapped up their road stint Thursday.
Florida seniors Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee along with freshman Talia Neilson-Gatenby got the nod to compete in the pre-qualifiers, qualifiers and the main draw of the championships, after each competed at the Kitty Harrison Invitational in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, just one week prior. They were joined by senior Emily De Oliveira, who made her season debut in the singles main draw.
De Oliveira was the only Gator to compete in the main draw of either doubles or singles competitions. She qualified after winning the ITA regionals in 2023 en route to a No. 29 ranking in collegiate singles.
In her first match since February, De Oliveira looked impressive in a challenging matchup against No. 10 Sarah Hamner from South Carolina. Making her return from injury, De Oliveira took the first set of the Round of 64 match decisively, winning 6-2.
Despite her quality start, De Oleveira showed a bit of inconsistency in her game and ultimately fell to Hamner in three sets, 6-2, 6-7, 4-6.
However, Florida head coach Roland Thornqvist wasn’t discouraged by De Oliveira’s opening match.
“I was very impressed with how Emily played, with this being her first match since February and against a top-10 player,” Thornqvist said.
De Oliveira competed in a Round of 32 consolation match on Thursday, losing the match to Central Florida’s Sophia Biolay in two sets 6-2, 6-0.
De Oliveira wasn’t Florida’s only singles player to compete in Cary.
No. 122 ITA-ranked freshman Talia Neilson-Gatenby and No. 103 senior Alicia Dudeney competed in singles qualifying matches. They each won their Round of 64 bouts, but neither surpassed the Round of 32.
Neilson-Gatenby faced Ohio State senior Shelly Bereznyak in the first round, looking dominant in a 6-0, 6-0 victory. The freshman showed impressive maturity in her second round match.
She lost her following match, though, the Loughborough, England, native Neilson-Gatenby dropped the final set 6-4 but put up a fight that impressed Thornqvist.
“Talia is going to be one of the best players in the country with time,” Thornqvist said. “She is very similar to Rachel [Gailis] in that the more she plays in this arena, the more comfortable she will be.”
Dudeney’s experience in her first singles qualifying match was similar to that of Neilson-Gatenby. She bested Appalachian State junior Savannah Dada-Mascoll in two sets, winning 6-2, 7-5. Subsequently, she struggled in the Round of 32, losing 7-6, 5-7, 5-7.
Dudeney also competed as part of the Gators’ only doubles duo that qualified for the ITA All-American Championship.
Partnering with fellow senior Bente Spee, the duo launched into pre-qualifying play on Saturday, winning their first matchup over Baylor junior Kennedy Gibbs and freshman Na Dong after back-to-back 6-1 set victories. In the Round of 16, the Gators continued to impress, besting a pair from Oklahoma 7-6, 6-2.
After two wins in pre-qualifiers, Spee and Dudeneygot the nod for qualifying play but lost in the opening round. Facing the duo of sophomore Valeria Ray and junior Bridget Stammel from women's tennis powerhouse Vanderbilt, the Gators struggled, getting swept 6-2, 7-5.
Following De Oliveira’s loss on Thursday, the Gators finished competing at the ITA All-American Championships.
Florida will next compete at the Bedford Cup in Fort Myers. The event will be hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University Oct. 6-8.
Contact Noah White at nwhite@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @noahwhite1782
