Gators Duo Alicia Dudeney and Rachel Gailis to Represent Florida at NCAA Doubles Championship

WACO, Texas— Florida’s Alicia Dudeney and Rachel Gailis will represent the Gators at the 2024 NCAA Tournament in the doubles draw. The duo was selected to play Michigan’s Lily Jones and Jessica Bernales Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the round of 32.
 
Dudeney and Gailis earned their NCAA Doubles Championship berth via the Regional Championship Title on Oct. 22. The duo defeated Georgia’s Aysegul Mert and Guillermina Grant in the Regional final 7-5, 2-6, 10-6 to boast a 5-0 record for 2024 fall play. 
 
NCAA Individual Championships

 
Dudeney X Gailis:

• The doubles pair is currently on a five-match win streak
• Dudeney and Gailis were ranked No. 50 at the start of the 2022-23 season
• Last time out as a duo was on Oct. 22 at Georgia Tech

  • Defeated Aysegul Mert / Guillermina Grant (Georgia) 7-5, 2-6, 10-6

• Wednesday will mark the Gators first time playing together at NCAA’s
• Gailis will make her NCAA doubles debut in Waco
•  Dudeney holds a 2-1 NCAA doubles record

  • Competed at the 2022 tournament alongside Marlee Zein

• The winner of Wednesday’s match will most likely face the No. 1 seeded Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle (UCLA) in the NCAA round of 16

 
About the Opponents:
The Florida duo has been drawn Michigan’s Lily Jones and Jessica Bernales for their round of 32 matchup. The Michigan pair is currently unranked; however, Jones was previously ranked alongside Julia Fliegner at No. 56 in the 2024 National Preseason Rankings.
 
Jones and Bernales earned their bid into the NCAA Doubles Tournament by advancing to the ITA Sectionals Championship match on Nov. 9. The Wolverines ultimately fell to Baylor’s Liubov Kostenko and Cristina Tiglea 8-3 to finish as the runner-up.
 
Currently Jones and Bernales hold an overall 10-2 record, which includes six regional victories on the year. Together they hold a winning percentage of 83, leading Michigan in the doubles category.
 
NCAA Update:
Beginning in 2024, individual competitions will occur in the fall rather than the spring season. It’s the start of a two-year pilot program, with team championships remaining in the spring.
 
NCAA Match Structure:
All matches shall be the best-of-three sets. No-ad scoring and a seven-point tiebreaker (first to seven points,…