STANFORD, Calif. - In the latest chapter of the sport's premier rivalry, No. 36 Stanford dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision to Florida at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
The back-and-forth match was clinched when Josie Kuhlman outlasted Caroline Lampl 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot.
It was another highly-competitive match in the rivalry, which started to gain momentum eight years ago when the Cardinal defeated the Gators to capture the 2010 NCAA title. Since 2010, the powerhouses have hooked up 13 times overall, with the Cardinal winning seven. Six of the last eight NCAA championships have been won by either Stanford or Florida.
The Cardinal suffered a rare home defeat, losing for only the third time in its last 42 matches on The Farm since 2015. Stanford had not lost at Taube since March 22, 2016, in a 4-3 setback against Pepperdine.
Stanford (4-3) captured the doubles point for a 1-0 advantage but Florida was able to rally, highlighted by a sweep of the back courts.
Trailing 1-0, Florida (5-4) quickly moved in front with two singles wins, as Peggy Porter defeated Emma Higuchi 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot and McCartney Kessler topped Janice Shin 6-4, 7-5 on court four.
Emily Arbuthnott then delivered a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Victoria Emma at the No. 3 position, knotting the match at 2-2.
Florida went ahead 3-2 following a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win from Katie Kubicz over Kimberly Yee at No. 6.
The Cardinal evened the match at 3-3 thanks to Michaela Gordon's 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Anna Danilina at the top spot of the lineup.
Kuhlman then provided the clincher, giving Florida its third straight win in the series.
Stanford returns to action on Friday, March 2, hosting Pepperdine at 1:30 p.m.
Florida 4, No. 36 Stanford 3
DOUBLES
1) No. 1 Arbuthnott/Gordon (STAN) d. No. 51 Danilina/Emma (FLA) 6-2
2) Kuhlman/Kessler (FLA) d. Lampl/Yee (STAN) 6-1
3) Higuchi/Shin (STAN) d. Kubicz/Porter (FLA) 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
1) No. 19 Michaela Gordon (STAN) d. Anna Danilina (FLA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
2) Josie Kuhlman (FLA) d. Caroline Lampl (STAN) 7-5, 1-6, 6-2
3) No. 31 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. Victoria Emma (FLA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
4) McCartney Kessler (FLA) d. Janice Shin (STAN) 6-4, 7-5
5) Peggy Porter (FLA) d. Emma Higuchi (STAN) 6-4, 6-2
6) Katie Kubicz (FLA) d. Kimberly Yee (STAN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3, 6, 1, 2