Gators men’s tennis team eliminated from NCAAs

It has taken years of jokes and a round of 16 men’s tennis match in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, but the Ohio State Buckeyes have finally defeated the Florida Gators. No. 5 Ohio State (34-3) eliminated No. 12 Florida (16-10) from the event with a 4-1 win on Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, GA.

Friday’s loss marks the second-straight year that the Gators have been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the round of 16. Florida has never won a team national title.

The Buckeyes easily took the doubles point with a pair of 8-1 and 8-3 victories, but the Gators were much more competitive in singles action. No. 42 junior Bob van Overbeek (3-6, 3-6) and No. 48 junior Tripper Carleton (4-6, 1-6) were defeated in straight sets, but sophomore Florent Diep (6-4, 6-2) picked up a victory and sophomore Mike Alford (7-6, 1-6, 0-6) took his opponent to three sets. Florida was in the middle of two other highly contested singles matches when Alford was defeated to end the competition.

The Gators will regroup for the 2012 NCAA Individual Championships scheduled for May 23-28. Florida’s singles competitors and doubles teams will look to win the squad’s first national titles since 1999 and 1993, respectively.