WACO, Texas – Florida women's tennis earned an impressive victory on the road at Baylor on Sunday afternoon, taking down the Bears, 6-1, in Waco.
 
Ranked No. 18 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings, Florida (3-1, 0-0 SEC), earned their best win of the season with Baylor (6-2, 0-0 Big 12) receiving votes in the most recent ITA poll.
 
The Gators got off to a quick start on Sunday afternoon, taking the early 1-0 match lead after claiming the doubles point. The No. 58 squad of Rachel Gailis and Bente Spee pulled away from Alina Shcherbinina and Anita Sahdiieva for a 6-3 win before Emma Shelton and Sophie Williams downed Isabella Harvison and Danielle Tuhten on court three, 6-4, to secure the doubles point.
 
In singles competition, Sara Dahlstrom made her first appearance on court three of the season. Matched up with Paula Baranano, Dahlstrom kept her perfect mark on the season after recording back-to-back bagels for a 6-0, 6-0 victory, extending Florida's lead to 2-0.
 
Not even five minutes later, Emily De Oliveira locked-down her court to push the Orange & Blue's lead to 3-0. The sophomore took command early with an impressive 6-1 first set and one-upped herself in the second, dominating for the 6-0 set and match victory.
 
Needing just one more point to secure the match, Gailis delivered for the Gators on court five. The freshman, trailing 4-3 midway through the first set, battled back to win the opening frame, 6-4. Gailis raced-out to a 3-0 lead in the second, but Tuhten responded by evening the set at four late in the afternoon. Gailis remained composed, however, to take the final two games and clinch the match for Florida.
 
The Gators picked-up their fifth and sixth wins of the afternoon within minutes of each other on courts four and two. Anastasia Sysoeva took down Daniella Dimitrov at four singles, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 in a three-set victory before Alicia Dudeney won a tight two-setter against Sahdiieva, 7-5, 6-3.
 
Baylor earned one point in the final match of the day, as Harvison held-off Carly Briggs on the top court in a three-set thriller, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.
 
The Gators return to action on Thursday, Feb. 9, when Florida State visits the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex for the Sunshine Showdown.
 
Singles Results
Isabella Harvison (Baylor) def. Carly Briggs: 1-6, 6-1, 7-5
Alicia Dudeney def. Anita Sahdiieva (Baylor): 7-5, 6-3
Sara Dahlstrom def. Paula Baranano (Baylor): 6-0, 6-0
No. 63 Anastasia Sysoeva def. Daniella Dimitrov (Baylor): 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
Rachel Gailis def. Danielle Tuhten (Baylor): 6-4, 6-4
Emily De Oliveira def. Brooke Thompson (Baylor): 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 5, 4, 2, 1
 
Doubles Results
Carly Briggs/Alicia Dudeney vs. Paula Baranano/Daniella Dimitrov: 3-5, unf.
No. 58 Rachel Gailis/Bente Spee def. Alina Shcherbinina/Anita Sahdiieva: 6-3
Emma Shelton/Sophie Williams def. Isabella Harvison/Danielle Tuhten: 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 3
 
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