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The tenth-ranked Georgia women’s tennis team (2-1) sealed a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships with a 4-0 ITA Kick-Off win over No. 28 Auburn (3-1) at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility on Sunday evening.

The match was highlighted by senior Lauren Herring and freshman Ellen Perez’s 6-4 doubles win over the nation’s No. 3 ranked tandem of Pleun Burgmans and Emily Flickinger on court one. The win allowed the Bulldogs to clinch the doubles point after freshman Hannah King and sophomore Caroline Brinson had won 6-3 on court three just moments prior.

The No. 19 ranked Herring was equally impressive in singles play as she swept No. 36 Burgmans 6-1, 6-3 in straight sets to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 overall lead. Perez and freshman Kennedy Shaffer came close to clinching the match in the second sets of their matches but both fell in hard-fought tiebreakers as Auburn stayed alive by forcing third sets.

Perez recovered to win the third set of her match 6-3 and give Georgia a 3-0 lead. Just moments later, junior Silvia Garcia won her third set 6-2 to clinch the match for the Bulldogs at 4-0.

“I thought we played a great match today,” said head coach Jeff Wallace. “I thought Auburn played a really good match as well. I really liked how we came back in doubles from our last match [Samford]. I thought we played strong on all three courts, so that was exciting to see us get off to that type of a start and get that doubles point. I also thought Lauren played an excellent match in singles today. She was really focused and determined and pumped up all the way through. That’s what we always want our number one player, and all of our players, to look like. She did a great job getting that second point.”

The victory sees Georgia through to the National Indoor Team Championships hosted by Virginia from Feb. 6-9. Prior to that event, Georgia will travel to No. 15 Clemson for a regular season dual match on Jan. 31. The Bulldogs will also face No. 5 Virginia on the road in a Feb. 2 dual match.

“We’ve got some huge opportunities on the road coming up over the next two weeks,” said Wallace. “I feel like if we continue to play like we did tonight then we will have some great results.”

Sunday’s win gives Georgia a 51-6 all-time record against the Tigers. Although it counts as a regular season victory, it does not count as an official SEC win.

Singles Results

1. #19 Lauren Herring (UGA) def. #36 Pleun Burgmans (AU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Ellen Perez (UGA) def. Emily Flickinger (AU) 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
3. #83 Silvia Garcia (UGA) def. Reka Muller (AU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
4. Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) vs. Andie Dikosavljevic (AU) 6-0, 6-7 (8-10), 4-4, unfinished
5. #91 Hannah King (UGA) vs. Paula de Man (AU) 6-5, unfinished
6. Jen Pfeifler (AU) vs. Caroline Brinson (UGA) no result

Doubles Results

1. Lauren Herring/Ellen Perez (UGA) def. #3 Pleun Burgmans/Emily Flickinger (AU) 6-4
2. Silvia Garcia/Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) vs. Michala Kucharova/Paula de Man (AU) 5-5,unfinished
3. Caroline Brinson/Hannah King (UGA) def. Reka Muller/Jen Pfeifler (AU) 6-3