Four years, four Southeastern Conference championships for Lauren Embree and Caroline Hitimana.
Florida clinched a share of the 2013 SEC title with a closely contested 4-1 win against Vanderbilt on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.
“I’m really happy for Caroline and Lauren to win four straight SEC Championships,” coach Roland Thornqvist said in a release. “It’s something we can’t take for granted. We’ve been blessed to have won quite a few here but we must always keep in mind how difficult it is to win in this league.”
Sofie Oyen was stuck in a first-set slump in singles play on Sunday.
After winning three games, Vanderbilt’s Courtney Colton took control of the court to end the set 6-3. Oyen shaped up in the second.
The junior from Belgium matched Colton’s first-set effort and won 6-3 to force a third set.
With UF leading 3-1, Oyen turned her second-set momentum into a 6-4 win in the third, sealing Florida’s victory.
Junior Olivia Janowicz played a close first set against Ashleigh Antal, eventually edging Antal out in two games for a 7-5 win. Janowicz came out tougher in the second and quickly grabbed a 6-1 win to put the Gators on the scoreboard.
Alex Cercone and Embree followed suit, grabbing two more singles wins for Florida.
Cercone took out Georgina Sellyn 6-1 in the first and 6-3 in the second.
After trailing by two games in the first, Embree overcame Lauren Mira’s lead to win 6-2. The top-ranked senior played quickly in the second set, taking down Mira 6-1.
Embree’s competitive singles play didn’t match up in doubles.
The Commodores sealed their victory in doubles after Embree and Oyen lost to Colton and Mira 8-4. For the first time in five matches, the No. 17 Florida pairing has dropped a doubles match.
Danielle Collins and Morgan lost 8-5 to Frances Altick and Georgina Sellyn.
“Vanderbilt played really well in doubles. It was really windy and they utilized the wind really well,” Thornqvist said. “We struggled a little with our decision making in the win but once singles started we got off to a fast start.”
The Gators begin play in the SEC Championships on Friday.
UF senior Lauren Embree returns a volley from Baylor sophomore Ema Burgic during the No. 1 Gators’ 7-0 win against the 15th-ranked Bears on Feb. 2. Embree has won four Southeastern Conference titles at Florida.
