GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 5 Stanford dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 1 Florida on Sunday afternoon, coming away with a split of its most challenging nonconference road swing in recent memory.
The Cardinal (4-1), which defeated No. 6 Oklahoma State 4-1 on Friday in a rematch of last year's NCAA championship, entered Sunday's match having won seven of its last 10 matchups against the Gators.
Instead, Florida (9-0) extended its overall home match winning streak to 163, representing the longest active home winning streak of any NCAA Division I team in any sport. The Gators last home loss came back on May 15, 2004 against Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The best rivalry in college tennis, Stanford and Florida have combined to win five of the last seven NCAA crowns. Close matches are usually the norm, but the Gators were decidedly the stronger team on Sunday.
Florida claimed the doubles point and extended its lead to 2-0 following Ingrid Neel's 6-1, 6-3 victory over Caroline Doyle at the No. 2 spot.
Emma Higuchi then accounted for Stanford's only point, putting away Spencer Liang at the No. 6 position.
The Cardinal continued to battle, with Taylor Davidson and Caroline Lampl having already won their first sets on courts one and four, respectively.
However, the Gators turned both matches, with Belinda Woolcock's 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Davidson securing the match.
Stanford next hosts Vanderbilt on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 12 p.m.
No. 1 Florida 4, No. 5 Stanford 1
DOUBLES
1) No. 18 Austin/Keegan (FLA) d. Arbuthnott/Davidson (STAN) 6-3
2) No. 36 Doyle/Lord (STAN) vs. No. 22 Danilina/Neel (FLA) 4-4, susp.
3) No. 17 Kuhlman/Woolcock (FLA) d. Higuchi/Lampl (STAN) 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 1
SINGLES
1) No. 40 Belinda Woolcock (FLA) d. Taylor Davidson (STAN) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
2) No. 45 Ingrid Neel (FLA) d. No. 38 Caroline Doyle (STAN) 6-1, 6-3
3) No. 23 Anna Danilina (FLA) led No. 13 Melissa Lord (STAN) 7-5, 3-6, 4-1, susp.
4) Brooke Austin (FLA) d. No. 75 Caroline Lampl (STAN) 2-6, 6-1, 7-5
5) No. 19 Josie Kuhlman (FLA) led No. 59 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) 7-6, 5-4, susp.
6) Emma Higuchi (STAN) d. No. 41 Spencer Liang (FLA) 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4, 1