Floridas womens tennis team will take to the Caribbean to open its 2020 season.<\/p>\n
UF is competing in the three-day Pink Flamingo Cup tournament in Nassau, Bahamas, from Friday through Sunday. The Gators weekend competition consists of No. 4 UCLA, No. 7 Texas and No. 23 Miami.<\/p>\n
Because all participating teams are ranked, the tournament will stand as a good test for Florida to start the spring.<\/p>\n
The Cup will pit all four teams against each other in both singles and doubles events.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Florida will begin the tournament against Texas in doubles and UCLA in singles.<\/p>\n
Saturday will bring a new challenge, as Florida will take on Miami in doubles and flip to singles against Texas.<\/p>\n
Finally, on Sunday, the Gators will face UCLA in doubles and Miami in singles.<\/p>\n
Of the Gators eight spots on its roster, six players are returning from last seasons successful campaign.<\/p>\n
Florida earned a 32nd-straight NCAA Championship appearance last season and settled into the No. 24 slot in the final 2019 rankings.<\/p>\n
Two athletes that will provide Florida with a big push this season are juniors McCartney Kessler and Ida Jarlskog.<\/p>\n
Kessler led UF in victories last year, accumulating 15 match wins for the Gators on her way to a 2019 All-SEC Second Team selection, while 2019 All-American Jarlskog finished No. 17 in 2019 singles play.<\/p>\n
Jarlskog also earned All-SEC First Team honors.<\/p>\n
After UF wraps up its weekend overseas, it will return home until it has to hit the road to compete in the ITA Kick-off Weekend at NC State from Jan. 25-26.<\/p>\n
Follow Dylan on Twitter @dylanoshea24 and contact him at [emailprotected].<\/p>\n
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The 21st-ranked Gators open up season in the Bahamas - The Independent Florida Alligator<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Floridas womens tennis team will take to the Caribbean to open its 2020 season. UF is competing in the three-day Pink Flamingo Cup tournament in Nassau, Bahamas, from Friday through Sunday. The Gators weekend competition consists of No Continue reading