Gailis Cracks Nation’s Top-10 – Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Women’s Tennis wraps up its 2024 regular season as the No. 14 ranked team in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings. The Gators maintain its top-15 ranking after defeating the Gamecocks 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, and Rachel Gailis breaks into the top-10 after defeating the No. 7 player Ayana Akli.

As of Apr. 16, the Gators have an overall record of 15-7 and an 11-2 conference record. Florida has posted wins against several ranked SEC opponents, with the most recent victories being against then-ranked No. 27 Vanderbilt (4-3), No. 64 Kentucky (4-0), and No. 18 South Carolina (4-2). Collectively, Florida has been on the rise since February and is projected to continue on this path as they enter the post-season.  

Rachel Gailis has finally found herself on the top-10 list, representing the Gators at No. 8. The accomplishment comes after she secured her highest career win over then-ranked No. 7 Ayana Akli of South Carolina. Gailis defeated Akli in a 6-2, 6-4 dominating performance to solidify her rise in the ranks. Gailis now holds an impressive 20-5 singles record and has gone 7-1 in her last 10 matches. The sophomore has also defeated six top-100 players this season and was crowned SEC Player of the Week Monday afternoon.

Freshman Qavia Lopez moved up an additional four spots in the ITA ranks to No. 111 with 14 singles wins this spring. Lopez also holds an impressive 10-2 conference record, and for the third time, was nominated SEC Freshman of the Week by the league.  

 

Carly Briggs made a large leap in the rankings after tallying six consecutive wins for Florida. Previously No. 80, Briggs now stands at No. 68, rising 12 spots in the rankings. Briggs holds an 8-2 SEC record and has won five of her last six matches in straight sets proving her dominance on court three.

 

Sara Dahlstrom now finds herself sitting at No. 71 in the intercollegiate ranks. Dahlstrom is 5-2 in SEC play and has posted wins against nationally ranked No. 29 Mia Kupres (Texas A&M) and No. 25 Alexandra Vecic (Georgia).

In the doubles category, Malwina Rowinska and Alicia Dudeney remain in the rankings at No. 50. The duo holds a 5-0 record since being paired up during SEC play. Rowinska and Dudeney have defeated three nationally ranked doubles pairs, No. 36 Morgan Cross/ Anet Koskel (Arkansas), No. 53 Inah Canete/ Mae Canete (Missouri), and No. 64 Ava Hrsatar/ Briana Crowley (Ole Miss). The slight dip in the duo’s rank…