Post-Match Quotes
Stanford 5, Florida 2
Stanford head coach Frank Brennan
"I am truly in a state of shock. I was really very surprised that we could pull
this off. We had injuries. We had a really good season and finished very strong. As I said
yesterday, There are 15 reasons why we should lose and one reason why we should
win and that reason seemed to prevail.
"We had a great group of players and
fighters and this is what it takes to win a national championship. We were a group of
fighters who were able to pull it off on the most important day of the year in college
tennis and because of that we won. I cant be prouder of these guys. They stayed
loose through the whole championship and that is why we have the trophy. I probably
underestimated this group. They are very talented and very hard-nosed. With four freshmen,
I thought we would have some ups and downs, and this year we would get seasoned and learn
what its all about. Then next year we would have a good shot."
On coming from behind to win the last
three singles matches:
"Obviously, when you have momentum going like that, its fantastic entering
doubles. In those three matches we were down match points in two of them. I feel badly for
the Florida players; they had a fantastic season. We were very fortunate to pull that off
today. Our girls were ready and wanted to win so badly."
Stanford No. 2 player Lauren
Kalvaria
On being down match point to UFs
Stephanie Hazlett:
"I think it is impossible to duplicate the feeling that you have when you are
down match point, especially with the surroundings here it being a crucial match in
the championship with the Florida fans. You have to play through it and want it more. We
both played a lot of tight points; so we are going to be tight in that situation as well.
I guess I was just tougher. I now have 17 wins in a row, and I wasnt going to let
that streak get snapped here at this time."
On the teams comeback overall:
"It just starts with one match to build momentum. When you hear the umpire say,
Game, set, match Stanford and then a little later, Game, set, match
Stanford it just pumps you up so much. It really inspired me when I saw
Jennifer (Heiser) had won, and she had been down three match points in a row, and I had
been down two match points it just fired me up."
University of Florida head coach Andy Brandi
"I really feel like they deserved the
win today. They did a tremendous job of applying pressure the entire day. There were many,
many, many opportunities that we did not capitalize and cash in on. When we didnt
when we faltered - they got stronger. In those situations, in a match this closely
contested, you cannot afford to cash in when it is time to get that money."
"They did a tremendous job of sticking
it out and grinding it out and just hanging in there until we shot ourselves in the
foot."
"It is more frustrating for them (the
UF players) than it is for me I cant play the match for them. I can only tell
them what needs to be done and how things need to be executed. To me, when I look at
Stephanie (Hazlett) and Traci (Green), who were in the position yesterday that they were
in today - today they were two different individuals. Yesterday in that position, they
came out firing. (Against Duke), when they got in that position, they were hitting on all
cylinders. Today, you could see that their body language was much different it was
much more tentative, much more stoic and they were afraid. They were afraid to lose the
match and Stanford gained the strength to fight through their nerves and hammer those two
matches out."
"That was crucial. If anything, the
first rain delay, if it hurt anything, it hurt M.C. because she had such momentum going at
that time. And when she came back, I think she started pressing just a little bit too much
and got a bit over anxious to close that set out and she started making errors. Keiko
(Tokuda) just waited and was being patient as M.C. kept making more mistakes."
On Traci Green not capitalizing on three
match points in the second set to win her match.
"She was done. I think she won two points in the third set. But then, if you look at
the way she played those three match points, all she did was retrieve and wait for
Jennifer to lose the point. When you are in a position like that, you cant wait for
a good player like Jennifer Heiser to make a mistake. You have to press them to come up
with the goods. If they dont make the goods, great. If they make the goods
hey, more power to them."
"I really felt confident that we were
going to win at No. 4 and No. 5. I really did. I knew it wasnt going to be a pretty
ending to No. 4 and No. 5, but I really felt confident that we could sneak those matches
through. But again, you have to give credit to Lauren (Kalvaria) and Jennifer (Heiser)
because they just hung around and hung around and they would just not quit."
On playing at home
"Sure, it is more pressure here. You have all the expectations of the fans. We
tried to create a scenario that we could take some of that pressure off, but I think today
was the first time that they felt that extra pressure that they probably have never
experienced before."
Comparing UFs semifinal win to
todays loss
"Today was a total opposite. Take yesterday and then take today it was total
reversal. Yesterday we competed well under pressure, but today we gave into
pressure."
Accessing UFs chances to win three
doubles matches
"It would have been fantastic (to win all three doubles). I really felt like we could
do it. I felt very confident at No. 1 and No. 3. I knew it was going to come down to No. 2
doubles. I had a feeling it was coming down to that match. And they had such bad start
that before they woke up, they were down 6-love. And then they started playing pretty
good, but they had dug such a deep hole that they couldnt get their head above
water."
Accessing how this loss compares to
other UF NCAA final losses
"I think this one and the one to the University of Texas in 1995 are right up
there."
On the Florida-Stanford rivalry
"They have the upper hand right now in finals. I believe they are up 4-1 in NCAA
finals so I dont think it is much a rivalry in the finals. I think we have the upper
hand indoors, they have the upper hand outdoors figure that one out. But it is a
good rivalry. I think Frank and I really enjoy competing against each other and having our
teams compete against each other. There is a lot of mutual respect between the two
programs. We have been battling for 15 years and he won a bunch at the beginning, but now
we are starting to trade back and forth."
Florida No. 4 player - Stephanie Hazlett
On singles match versus Lauren Kalvaria:
"Physically I wouldnt say I wasnt 100% when I went out on the court,
but I gave it my all and Lauren played extremely well the whole time, she never let off. I
had my chances because I had four match points, but she kept on me, played great and came
out ahead."
On having four match points:
"I really dont look at it as frustrating to have had four match points and
not be able to pull it out because its just another point. She came up with a few
big shots, and I was playing the same way as I was for any other point, but I just got
unlucky at the wrong time."
On Stanfords turn around:
"Being the last match out there I definitely had my chances, at 5-3 in the third
set to give us the momentum swing and get Traci and M.C. going. Its rough when
its the last match like that because every single match is worth so much and you
cant say you dont feel the pressure because you do. You know what your match
means to the team and for the championship decision. Yesterday, I pulled out big shots at
the right time, and today I didnt come up with it. Kalvaria played very well
and I give all of my respect to her."
Florida No. 2
player - Stephanie Nickitas
On finishing second:
"It seems like there hasnt been too many times that we werent ranked
No. 1 or the favorite during my four years here so its tough. Were
two-for-four in the NCAAs. Both losses were tough, but this one is the hardest. I thought
we definitely could have won this match today, and are capable of beating any team in the
nation. Its just really hard to swallow here at home in front of our home crowd. For
me individually, it was my last match so its pretty tough."
On watching the last singles matches play
out:
"Its hard watching no matter what match it is, no matter what time of year.
I had to watch the finals at the team indoor championship because I got sick, and that was
grueling. I finished my singles early yesterday and then had to watch the rest of them,
which was just as tough. We all get very nervous for each other because were pulling
for each other so its difficult to watch."
On knowing the team had to win all of
the doubles to win:
"Its tough because youre trying to be so pumped up to play, and we
were, but it was hard knowing we were down 4-2 and we had to win all three doubles. I
really think it could have been done and had no doubt at the time that we were going to do
that."
On playing at home:
"We did feel the pressure playing in front of our home crowd because theyre
on us just like the other team is. Obviously when youre ahead and have the momentum
rolling with you, then the crowd can really help and get behind you. Then again, when
youre down and theyre telling you to step it up, there is that sense of
pressure."
Florida No. 1 player - Whitney Laiho
On getting psyched up to play doubles:
"I knew that we had to go out and win all of our doubles to pull through. I would
do anything for the team so I was really pumped up, but they came out and played really
well so they came out on top. I think they came out strong and we couldnt come back
with the shots."