Gators Dominate Doubles in Day One of Kitty Harrison Invitational

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.– Florida tennis completed day one of the Kitty Harrison Invitational tallying several wins over Old Dominion. The annual tournament is hosted by the University of North Carolina and is stretched across three days.

The Gators made an immediate statement in Chapel Hill winning all three doubles courts. The sweep over Old Dominion was an all-around effort with wins coming from senior leaders Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee, ranked pair No. 66 Qavia Lopez and Talia Neilson-Gatenby, and freshman duo Nikola Daubnerova and Noemie Oliveras.

Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee played at No. 1 doubles for the Gators and defeated their first ranked opponents of the 2024-25 season. Dudeney and Spee faced No. 77 Sophia Johnson and Lidiia Rasskouskaia of Old Dominion and won 6-4.

Florida’s No. 2 pairing consisted of sophomore Qavia Lopez and freshman Talia Neilson-Gatenby. The duo was ranked No. 66 in the preseason and played a key role in Florida’s doubles success today with a 6-2 victory over ODU’s Victoria Matasova and Ulyana Romanova. Rounding out the doubles sweep was a dominate 6-1 win on court three from the newest Gators, Nikola Daubnerova and Noemie Oliveras.

Florida tallied two additional wins against Old Dominion on day one of the tournament. The singles victories came from No. 103 Alicia Dudeney and No. 122 Talia Neilson-Gatenby. Dudeney played on court two for the Gators and showed great composure defeating No. 115 Kira Matushkina in straight sets (6-3, 6-3).

Talia Neilson-Gatenby played on court three for her Gators debut in singles. Neilson-Gatenby played Lidiia Rasskouskaya and had a strong start, taking the first set 6-1 before battling it out in a second set tiebreaker. Neilson-Gatenby ultimately pulled ahead winning 7-4 taking the match 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). 

Final Singles Results:

#37 Sophia Johnson (ODU) def. #61 Qavia Lopez (Florida) 6-2, 6-3

#103 Alicia Dudeney (Florida) def. #115 Kira Matushkina (ODU) 6-3, 6-3

#122 Talia Neilson-Gatenby (Florida) def. Lidiia Rasskouskaya (ODU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)

Allison Isaacs (ODU) def. Nikola Daubnerova (Florida) 1-6, 6-3, 11-9

Victoria Matasova (ODU) def. Noemie Oliveras (Florida) 2-6, 6-4, 10-6

 

Final Doubles Results:

Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (Florida) def. #77 Sophia Johnson/Lidiia Rasskouskaia (ODU) 6-4

#66 Qavia Lopez/Talia Neilson-Gatenby (Florida) def. Victoria Matasova/Ulyana…