Alexandra Cercone brings patience and confidence to a high-ranked Florida team this spring season.
Coach Roland Thornqvist said Cercone is one of the players who will be a key to success on the courts this weekend as Florida hosts No. 18 Clemson and No. 13 Stanford.
“She’s playing three, and she’s in a position to win every single time she walks out onto the court,” Thornqvist said. “She’s got great confidence right now and that’s certainly helping us.”
Florida last met Clemson in the 2011 NCAA Championships and clinched a 4-1 victory to advance on to the next round.
Still, the highlight of the weekend will be Sunday when Florida faces Stanford. Last season, the Gators only loss came to the Cardinal on Feb. 12 in a 2-5 defeat.
Despite the large focus on Stanford, Thornqvist said Clemson will be a tough team to face.
“It’s the classic trap match here because the whole world is talking about Sunday and Stanford, and here comes Clemson, who is a top 10 team in my eyes,” Thornqvist said.
“We have to go back to the old way of playing Gator tennis with great discipline, defend well if we have to, and embracing long rallies.”
Thornqvist said after spending over a week practicing and playing indoors, the Gators will have to be patient as they switch to outdoors.
Florida trails behind Stanford in their series, with the Cardinal taking 17 matches to the Gators' 12.
“[Stanford] always brings out the best in us,” senior Lauren Embree said. “We’re looking forward to the high-competitive tennis this weekend.”
Thornqvist said the rest is good for the team to refocus after Duke and UNC.
“We need to focus more on not what they’ve done but what we’ve done,” Embree said.
Other then some minor adjustments in pairings formation and serves, Thornqvist said the lineup will remain the same.
Thornqvist hopes this competitive play will show just what his Florida team can do out on the courts.
“It’s going to be a war I’m sure from first point to last,” Thornqvist said.
Alexandra Cercone returns a volley. Cercone propelled Florida to a 7-0 victory against South Carolina on Saturday.
