From Florida reports

— The University of Florida men’s tennis team defeated the SMU Mustangs, 4-0 on Friday afternoon in NCAA Round of 16. Florida advances to the NCAA Quarterfinal round for the first time since the 2005 season.

In doubles action, the Gators needed the final two courts to clinch the doubles point. The No. 1-ranked tandem of Diego Hidalgo and Gordon Watson extended their winning streak to ten matches with a gritty 7-5 win over the No. 31-ranked tandem of

TULSA, Okla.

Johnson and Johnson on court one. For the second consecutive match, Alfredo Perez and Chase Perez-Blanco clinched the doubles point and extended their own winning streak to seven matches. The duo won on a 7-2 tiebreak to give the Gators an early 1-0 lead.

In singles action, the bottom half of the Florida lineup got it done for the Gators. Senior Watson led the charge and was first off the court with a 62, 6-2 win over Yates Johnson on court five. The Naples, Fla. native has now won six matches in a row. Freshman and former Calhoun High standout McClain Kessler was next off the court with a win over Tony Russell 6-3, 6-0 on court six. Perez-Blanco would clinch the win for the Gators on court four with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Ronald Slobodchikov on four.

Florida, who has won eight consecutive matches since the April 8 moved on to take on the No. 1 seed Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.

In Sunday’s action against the Cavaliers:

Gators’ season ends in NCAA Quarterfinals TULSA, Okla.

— The University of Florida men’s tennis team ended the 2016 campaign with a 4-0 loss to the No. 1- ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Gators finish the 2016 with a record of 21-7, including a 10-2 record in SEC play and the program’s fifth SEC tournament title.

For the first time in 13 matches, the Gators dropped the doubles point with losses on courts one and three. In singles action, the Gators fell on three courts to give the Cavaliers the 4-0 sweep. Freshman McClain Kessler fell 6-4, 6-2 on court six. Junior Elliott Orkin was defeated by the No. 9-ranked ThaiSon Kwiatkowski, 7-6(2), 6-2 on court three. In the end, Chase Perez- Blanco fell at the hands of the No. 78-ranked Alexander Ritschard, 63, 7-6(4) on court four to seal the Cavaliers victory.

The Gators will return seven members of the 2016 squad for 2017 with the addition of three new members. Seniors Diego Hidalgo and Gordon Watson still have tennis to play in the Orange and Blue in the NCAA Individual Doubles Championships that are set to begin on Wednesday, May 25. Freshman Alfredo Perez, Orkin and Hidalgo will also compete in the NCAA Individual Singles Championships.