I’m a UCF alumna covering College MatchDay between FSU and UF on February 4th. Excuse me while I look down and quickly realize I’m wearing black and gold(ish) attire. I didn’t plan that (at least not consciously). I arrive at the USTA National Campus to fireworks being shot off. The nice, chilly weather made for a pretty perfect night of sports. This was virtually a sold-out MatchDay with a record crowd of almost 2,000 fans. The match also was aired live on the Tennis Channel to a national television audience. The orange and blue clashed with the gold and garnet in the stands.
It was a bit of sensory overload with six doubles matches going at once: three women’s and three men’s. Florida was up in two out of three women’s matches, whereas the men were much closer with UF and FSU practically tied in all three matches within the first 30 minutes.
Men’s matches:
- First men’s game-UF 6 FSU 2
- Second men’s game-UF 4 FSU 6
- Third men’s game-UF 6 FSU 7
This was the closest game and went to a tie breaker after 6-6. The third men’s game was the last one being played. All eyes were on this game. It was all tied up. The tension was building. I’m sure the athletes had sweaty palms. Tennis balls were zooming through the air. FSU was not letting UF take anything. FSU was up 00-03, UF scores 01-03, now 02-03; 02-04 FSU’s serve…02-05, great light hit by FSU, nice and quick reflexes by UF, not enough…FSU scores again 02-06, out of bounds, 03-06, but 03-07 as UF missed the rebound of FSU’s serve. FSU wins.
Women’s matches:
- First women’s game-UF 6 FSU 4
- Second women’s game-UF 2 FSU 6
- Third women’s game-UF 4 FSU 6
The Seminoles were up 1-0 in both men’s and women’s games. Next, they took on the Gators in singles matches with 12 happening at once; six men’s and six women’s. Each match consisted of three games with a best-of-three format.
First Men’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 10 points in the final game (6 games) FSU 12 points in final game (7 games)
- Went to a tie breaker at 6-6
- Game 2-UF 3 FSU 6
FSU WINS
Second Men’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 7
- Went to a tie breaker at 6-6
- UF 6 FSU 7
- Went to a tie breaker at 6-6
FSU WINS
Third Men’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 4
- Game 2-UF 6 FSU 3
UF WINS
Fourth Men’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 1
- Game 2-UF 4 FSU 6
- Game 3-UF 2 FSU 6
FSU WINS
Fifth Men’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 3
- Game 2-UF 6 FSU 0
UF WINS
Sixth Men’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 2
- Game 2-UF 7 FSU 5
UF WINS
The men at FSU were ranked at number 22 and rallied from a 3-1 deficit, knocking off the Gators for the second year in a row, who were ranked at number eight, with a score of 4-3.
FSU men win and win College MatchDay.
First Women’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 4
- Game 2-UF 10 points in final game (6 games) FSU 10 points in final game (6 games)
- DIDN’T FINISH DUE TO MAJORITY WINS ALTOGETHER
Second Women’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 3
- Game 2-UF 6 FSU 3
UF WINS
Third Women’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 1 FSU 6
- Game 2-UF 3 FSU 6
FSU WINS
Fourth Women’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 6 FSU 4
- Game 2-UF 3 FSU 6 ️
- Game 3-UF 2 FSU 4
- DIDN’T FINISH DUE TO MAJORITY WINS ALTOGETHER
Fifth Women’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 2 FSU 6
- Game 2-UF 3 FSU 6
FSU WINS
Sixth Women’s Match:
- Game 1-UF 3 FSU 6 ️
- Game 2-UF 6 FSU 3
- Game 3-UF 2 FSU 6 ️
FSU women win and stopped all other matches. Seminoles women win College MatchDay.
The Florida Gators women were the defending national champions, ranked at number three in the country for only the second time in program history. 4-1 WIN.
USTA’s College MatchDay will continue with:
-UCF vs. Michigan men and women on Saturday, March 3rd at 12:30 p.m. ET
-Florida vs. Texas women on Sunday, April 1st at 5 p.m. ET
–UCF vs. South Florida men on Sunday, April 15th, at 5:30 p.m. ET
For more information on the USTA’s College MatchDay series, visit here: https://www.ustanationalcampus.com/collegiate
