[su_spacer size=”40″] SEC CHAMPS: Georgia won the SEC regular season title for the 29th time this season, to go along with its nine SEC Tournament titles for a total of 38 combined regular season and tournament crowns – all since 1971. No other SEC team has reached double digit SEC regular season and tournament titles during that time. The Bulldogs were 11-1 in conference play this season, the only loss coming at current No. 20 Mississippi State on April 3. Sixth-ranked Texas A&M also shared the SEC title this season with Georgia. The Aggies were also 11-1 in the SEC with their only loss at Georgia 4-1 on March 6. This is the third consecutive season that Georgia has won the SEC regular season title.
[su_spacer size=”40″] GEORGIA’S SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Georgia is 48-16 all-time in the SEC Tournament with nine titles, most recently in 2013. The SEC began its current team format tournament in 1990, and this is the 12th time – and third consecutive year – that the Bulldogs have been the No. 1 seed. Georgia was also the No. 1 seed three consecutive seasons from 2006-2008, and UGA is 23-5 as the top seed in the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs have won the SEC regular season title and the SEC Tournament in the same season seven times: 1991, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2013. Georgia’s nine SEC Tournament titles is most in the league. Florida is next with four. UGA has 15 appearances in the final.
[su_spacer size=”40″] RANKINGS: Georgia climbed three spots to No. 5 in this week’s national rankings. The Bulldogs have now been in the top-five nationally eight weeks this season. In singles, three Georgia players are in the top-30: Nathan Pasha at No. 26, Wayne Montgomery at No. 28 and Austin Smith at No. 29. Smith and Ben Wagland are ranked No. 1 in doubles for the fourth consecutive week. Wagland is also No. 41 with Paul Oosterbaan, and Smith is ranked 75th with Eric Diaz.
[su_spacer size=”40″] NOTEWORTHY
[su_spacer size=”10″] » Six different players have clinched multiple matches for Georgia this season, led by Nick Wood and Austin Smith with five each.
» Paul Oosterbaan currently owns the team’s longest winning streak at 10 matches, and he is unbeaten since Feb. 15.
» Georgia’s freshmen are a combined 15-1 in SEC singles matches this season.
» The Bulldogs have used the same doubles combinations at No. 1 in 17 consecutive matches. No. 1-ranked Smith and Ben Wagland are 12-2 in those matches.
» Nathan Pasha needs one more win to move into a tie for 10th on the all-time career doubles wins list at UGA. He is currently 97-46. The Atlanta, Ga., native is 214-93 in singles and doubles matches in his career, which is 11th on UGA’s career wins list.
» The Bulldogs, currently ranked fifth, have five wins against teams ranked in the top-20, including two in the top-six. Georgia defeated current No. 3 Illinois 4-2 Feb. 14 at National Indoors, and No. 6 Texas A&M 4-1 at home on March 6.
» Georgia players won a total of five SEC weekly honors this season. Wayne Montgomery was named freshman of the week three times, and Austin Smith was a two-time player of the week honoree.
» Austin Smith and Ben Wagland – ranked No. 1 nationally in doubles – are 12-2 this season with wins against nine ranked teams. They have defeated opponents ranked Nos. 1, 2, 8, 11 and 12.
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UP NEXT: The NCAA Tennis Selection Show will be held Tuesday, April 28 on NCAA.com. The men’s selections will be announced at 5:30 p.m. (following women’s selections at 5:00). The NCAA first and second rounds will be held on campus sites the weekend of May 8-10.