On Sunday afternoon the No. 11 Florida Gators had enough chomp to overcome the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators outlasted regular season champions Georgia, in a head-to-head dual match which resulted in a 4-2 victory for Florida.
We weren't leaving Columbia without this trophy! #GoGators #Five0 pic.twitter.com/H6774ysjod
— Gators Men's Tennis (@GatorsMTN) April 24, 2016
Florida now shines as the only Southeastern Conference team to knock off the Bulldogs in a head-to-head dual match this season.
The tempo was set by Gators’, Maxx Lipman and Elliot Orkin who took on Georgia’s Paul Oosterbaan and Jan Zielinski for an intense start of the day in doubles action. Lipman and Orkin tag teamed and got a victory over Georgia’s first duo of the day.
Chase Perez-Blanco and Alfredo Perez were the next Gators up. This duo’s high-energy compiled a win over Georgia’s Wayne Montgomery and Emil Reinberg to force Florida to have a one point lead and to get ahead in the doubles category.
The Gators were relentless in the singles category, as well. Senior Gordon Watson dominated to solidify the match-clinching win on a three-set victory against Georgia’s Nick Wood.
Sunday’s victory capped Florida’s fifth SEC Tournament Championship in program history and this marks head coach, Bryan Shelton’s first SEC Tournament title. Shelton makes it known that this accomplishment is not all his team has to offer.
Florida will be back in action at the 2016 NCAA Tennis Tournament which will be held from May 13 to May 25.