LEXINGTON, Ky. — After dropping the doubles point, the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (13-1, 6-0) rallied to take four of five singles matches that were played to completion and defeated No. 23 Kentucky (12-6, 1-5) by a 4-2 tally in Lexington’s Boone Tennis Center on Thursday night.
 
 
“That was an awesome team win for us,” said Georgia associate head coach Drake Bernstein. “A lot of credit goes to Kentucky for coming out strong in doubles. Our girls bounced back in the first 15 minutes of singles with high energy and enthusiasm, which was a great sign for us coaches. We definitely have a special group on our hands.”
 
 
The match was Georgia’s third win when dropping the doubles point this season, which has happened four times.
 
 
The Bulldogs fell on the first and third doubles courts by twin 6-2 scores, forcing the road team to have to fight back from an early deficit.
 
 
Georgia got a boost from the veterans once singles started, claiming quick victories from Silvia Garcia on the No. 4 court and Caroline Brinson on the third. Ellen Perez followed soon after with a win on the first court to push Georgia to the brink of victory.
 
 
After a setback on the second court in which Kennedy Shaffer dropped a tightly-contested, three-set match, Mariana Gould came through with a dominant effort on the fifth court.
 
 
Georgia will now turn its sights to Saturday’s match against reigning national champion, No. 5 Vanderbilt. The rematch of last year’s SEC Championship match in Nashville is slated to start at 1 p.m.
 
 
For all the latest on Georgia women’s tennis, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAWomensTennis), Instagram (@ugawomenstennis) and on Facebook (Georgia Women’s Tennis).
 
 
Results

No. 3 Georgia 4, No. 23 Kentucky 2

Singles
1. #7 Ellen Perez (UGA) def. #76 Justina Mikulskytė (UK), 6-4, 6-4
2. #49 Aldila Sutjiadi (UK) def. #56 Kennedy Shaffer (UGA), 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2
3. #27 Caroline Brinson (UGA) def. Nadia Ravita (UK), 6-2, 6-1
4. #79 Silvia Garcia (UGA) def. Akvilė Paražinskaitė (UK), 6-2, 6-1
5. Mariana Gould (UGA) def. Mami Adachi (UK), 6-2, 6-2
6. Kirsten Lewis (UK) vs. Laura Patterson (UGA), 6-4, 2-2, abandoned

Doubles
1. #3 Adachi/Aldila Sutjiadi (UK) def. No. 28 Perez/Gould (UGA), 6-2
2. Brinson/Garcia (UGA) vs. Ravita/Mikulskytė (UK) , 3-5, unfinished
3. Lewis/Paražinskaitė (UK) def. Shaffer/Patterson (UGA), 6-2

Georgia (13-1, 6-0), Kentucky (12-6, 1-5)
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,3,1,2,5)