GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The College of Charleston women's tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to Florida in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Championships at Linder Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, the Cougars end their 2009 dual match season with a 24-5 overall mark. Florida improved to 15-9 with the win and advanced to a second round matchup with Florida State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

"I thought we came into this match very well prepared and left everything we had on the court," said Charleston head coach Angelo Anastopoulo. "I'm very proud of our team and the way they represented both the College of Charleston and the Southern Conference with their performance today."

In doubles action, the team of Holly Dowse and Caroline Newman made quick work Florida's Brooke Allen and Lauren Wolken with an 8-1 victory in the first match to finish. With the win, the team of Dowse and Newman finished the season with an 11-1 record and won their last eight doubles contests of the year.

Florida, however, would storm back with convincing victories in the number two and number one positions to take the team point.

At number two, the 25th ranked tandem of Jessica Alexander and Anastasia Revzina shutout Charleston's Kinsey Casey and Keely Mulligan 8-0, while the 18th ranked team of Marrit Boonstra and Joanna Mather were 8-3 victors over Laura Borza and Anna Lee Evans.

In singles, the Cougars earned their lone point of the afternoon in the number six spot, as Casey was a straight set winner over Allen 6-1, 6-0. Florida, however, had decisive victories at number one singles, as Boonstra was a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Borza and number four singles, as Jessica Alexander was a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Evans.

The Gators clinched the match with a win at number two singles, as Anastasia Revzina defated Dowse 6-1, 6-1.