Despite losing several critical players from last season, women’s tennis coach Roland Thornqvist is pleased with the Gators’ roster.
Thornqvist expects to see several of his seven players ranked among the top-10 players in the nation when Florida opens its spring season against Louisville on Jan. 25.
“We have that kind of talent,” Thornqvist said. “We’re heading in the right direction.”
For Bryan Shelton, coach of the men’s team, the fall preseason, which includes seven tournament appearances, is more about development.
“We know that after last year there was a little bit of a gap between us and some of the top teams in the country,” Shelton said. “Our goal is to make that gap smaller and smaller.”
Florida’s men finished 15-11 a year ago and ended the season ranked No. 16. The women’s side enjoyed more success, falling short of a third straight national title by losing to Stanford in the NCAA semifinals.
Both teams left their respective ITA tournaments without trophies or titles last weekend. Two players from each team advanced to the main singles draws of the All-American tourneys but lost in the first round.
Brianna Morgan and Sofie Oyen each lost in two sets in the women’s tournament. For the men, Florent Diep fell 7-6, 7-5, while Stephane Piro put up a three-set battle before falling 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3.
Both teams added three freshmen to each of their rosters this summer. Of the three newcomers on the men’s team, Shelton recognized Elliott Orkin as a standout performer.
“It’s a little bit rare for a freshman to come out with a fearless mentality, but he’s been able to do that from the start,” Shelton said.
Orkin has competed in both of the team’s tournament appearances. He and teammate Gordon Watson survived all four qualifying rounds to advance to the All-American doubles main draw before losing in the third round.
Belinda Woolcock, who earned an ITA top-10 ranking among newcomers, has starred on the women’s side. Woolcock has competed at every Florida tournament so far this year.
“She’s getting better every time out,” Thornqvist said. “She can play big when she needs to, and she’s also willing to play defense when the ball tells her to.”
All three of the freshmen on the women’s team will play their first matches on UF courts this weekend during the Bedford Cup, which runs Thursday through Sunday.
Senior Olivia Janowicz will join the trio in UF’s lone home-court tournament of the preseason.
Freshman Stefani Stojic, who battled shoulder tendinitis earlier this year, is also expected to make her Florida debut.
“Hopefully we’ll play a lot of matches, that’s what we want for our freshmen,” Thornqvist said. “Get a lot of data. How do we do of offense how do we do on defense …playing at home is a great way to see these things and get them on film.”
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Florida redshirt freshman Gordon Watson hits a ball during the Bedford Cup on Sept. 15, 2012, at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
