The weather in Gainesville coming into Sunday’s Tennessee-Florida men’s tennis matchup was a brisk 70 degrees with a calm wind and blue skies. But the weather wasn’t the coolest part of the match.
It can be conveyed on a scorecard (FC5U, E5), but it can’t be explained or appreciated there. In the annals of Gators baseball individual plays, perhaps the strangest of them all — FC5U, E5 — now belongs to Wil Dalton.
Senior Anna Danilina, the No. 9 collegiate tennis player in the world, had lost her last three singles matches. In Saturday’s meet against Mississippi State at the A.J Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville, she was determined to bring her losing streak to a close.
When the Gators lacrosse team hit the road to take on a Tar Heels squad that was coming off a win against the nation’s previous top-ranked team, the Maryland Terrapins, it expected a hard-fought 60 minutes.
Nick Horvath’s arm has more range than Madonna’s singing voice.
Kentucky guard Quade Green put up a shot while double-covered that bounced off the front of the rim and was tipped towards the baseline. UF guard Egor Koulechov ran after it, hovering out-of-bounds to save the ball, and tossed it back in play.
Fans held their breath. They had been waiting almost 14 minutes for Chris Chiozza to set the UF career assists record against rival Kentucky on Senior Day in the O’Connell Center.
Freshman Oliver Crawford wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath before his serve. The crowd chanted, coaches shouted orders and teammates clamored with words of encouragement.
Florida coach Jenny Rowland didn’t smile at the beginning of the Gators beam rotation Friday night. Her face held the same stern acceptance it had a week ago when senior Kennedy Baker tore her Achilles tendon against Arkansas, ending her collegiate career and leaving UF with one less All-American.
Wil Dalton was just getting started.
After a month of indoor play, the Florida men's tennis team is ready to get back outside and welcome No. 17 Georgia and No. 25 Tennessee to Gainesville. The Gators and Bulldogs will continue their annual rivalry today at 6 p.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex. Tennessee will follow on Sunday at 1 p.m.
After an easy 16-5 win against Jacksonville Wednesday night, the No. 6 Gators lacrosse team will head into arguably its most difficult stretch of the season when they face No. 3 North Carolina, No. 7 Syracuse and No. 8 Navy over an 11-day span.
LeBron James, JaKarr Sampson and Jerome Lane.
When asked what it has been like to play under the wing of first-year head coach Cameron Newbauer, the waterworks began to flow. Transfer Paulina Hersler had just finished her first and only season in a Florida Gators uniform and couldn’t hold back the tears.
What do the magic bullet theory, particle physics and long-distance relationships have in common?
There was one less smile at the Gators gymnastics practice gym Wednesday.
There’s a lot you can do in 15 seconds.
Peggy Porter had been here before.
Gators catcher Janell Wheaton is stoked.
It didn’t take much to get Florida guard Jalen Hudson going on Tuesday.
Solutions by The State News
