May 22, 2006
Recap | Results
Notes:
No. 1 Stanford improves to 29-0 with the win ... Stanford win streak is now at 85 straight ... Cardinal has also won 106 straight at home ... Cardinal has won 18 straight NCAA tournament matches since losing to Florida in 2003 final (and 34 of last 35 NCAA matches) ... Cardinal coach Lele Forood improves to 34-1 in NCAA matches (and is 167-3overall)... Stanford has now advanced to 20 of the 25 NCAA finals, winning the championship a record 14 times; has 14-5 record in title match ... Stanford is now 20-4 in NCAA SF matches ... Stanford and Florida have faced each other in either the NCAA semifinals or final 10 times with the Cardinal winning eight times ...No. 4 Florida finishes season at 25-2 ... Loss snaps UF's 19-match win streak dating back to Feb. 26 (UNC) ... Florida falls to 10-8 in final four matches; has lost in SF each of the last two years ... Today's SF was between the two most storied programs in college tennis history - every NCAA final since 1986 has featured at least one of these two programs ... Stanford beat TCU in round of 16 and Duke in QF; Florida beat UCLA in round of 16 and Baylor in QF ... Celia Durkin is 2-0 this week and 21-0 this season.
Quotes:
Stanford head coach Lele Forood
"We were very solid in doubles and that set the tone for the whole match. We also had great starts in our singles matches."
Alice Barnes
(On facing Florida for the first time since a 4-3 loss in the NCAA championship match in 2003): "I'd be lying if I didn't think about it (the 2003 match vs Florida). It's almost an entirely different team (Florida), but I wanted to beat Florida just once before I graduated."
On competing for a national championship: When you are the defending champion, how can you have any other goals? We try to remain calm throughout the tournament, because tomorrow (Tuesday) is the main goal (championship match vs Miami). That is something we set our sights on. Anything less than a win tomorrow is a disappointment."
Amber Liu
"This was the first time we have played Florida since the loss (4-3 in 2003 in the NCAA championship match) and it was a good opportunity for us. The team did a great job of coming out calm, composed and with a great attitude."
Whitney Deason
"I think we start the year and this is our goal (winning the NCAA title). Our individual matches are a building block. I think we go into every match with confidence, but we also don't underestimate anybody. We have a faith in each other. That makes it easier to relax when you are playing."
Florida head coach Roland Thornqvist
"We got blitzed. No question about it. We lost to a very, very good Stanford team today. They didn't give us a chance to get into the match. In doubles, the first 15 minutes set the tone. They played phenomenal tennis and put us on our heels. When you play a big, strong team like Stanford, if you don't have your best stuff in this setting, this arena, in the semifinals in front of this crowd, it's going to be an uphill battle. Give Stanford all the credit in the world. They didn't give us a chance to get into the match. I'm proud of my team. I thought we fought, but Stanford was a lot better in the semfinals than we were.
On Stanford playing Miami in the finals: "Two contrasting styles. Miami is a feisty, gritty team. If Stanford plays the way it today, you will have to attack more. I think Miami has a chance, but Stanford will go into the match as the favorite."