[su_spacer size=”20″] The fourth-ranked Georgia women’s tennis team earned a 4-1 SEC road victory over the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Saturday afternoon at Barksdale Stadium to extend its current winning streak to four matches and remain in the top-2 of the league standings.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia won the doubles point and then proceeded to earn singles victories on courts 6 and 1 before freshman Kennedy Shaffer clinched the match for the Bulldogs with a win on court 3.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The victory moves Georgia to 13-4 on the season and 6-1 in SEC play, while the Lady Vols fall to 8-11 overall and 0-7 in league matches. It also extends Georgia’s advantage over Tennessee to 43-9 in the all-time series.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead by picking up the doubles point with wins on the second and third courts. Georgia’s No. 20 ranked doubles team of Silvia Garcia and Kennedy Shaffer swept Laurence Guevremont and Eve Repic 8-0 on court 2 before Laura Patterson and Hannah King, playing together for just the third time this season, wrapped the point up with an 8-3 victory on court 3. The match between Georgia’s No. 16 ranked duo of Lauren Herring and Ellen Perez and Tennessee’s No. 30 ranked team of Joanna Henderson and Caitlyn Williams went unfinished on court 1, although the Bulldog tandem was ahead 6-4 when play was brought to a halt.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In singles, sophomore Caroline Brinson cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Tiffany Tavares on court 6 to double Georgia’s advantage at 2-0. Tennessee briefly cut the lead in half when Victoria Olivarez handed Bulldog freshman Hannah King her first SEC loss of the season with a 6-3, 6-3 win on court 5, but Herring quickly restored the two-point margin for Georgia with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Joanna Henderson on court 1.
[su_spacer size=”40″] That presented Shaffer the opportunity to clinch her second match for the Bulldogs this season, and the freshman delivered with the 6-3, 6-3 win on court 3. She is now riding a four match winning streak in singles.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “We had a great team effort today from start to finish,” said head coach Jeff Wallace. “Laura and Hannah played great doubles to clinch the point for us. Kennedy also did a fantastic job closing out her match with a break at love. We’re really looking forward to two more road challenges next weekend.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia will return home for a week of practice before hitting the road once again next weekend for matches at Arkansas on March 27 and Missouri on March 29. First serve in the match against the Razorbacks is set for 2 p.m. ET.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Singles Results
1. #11 Lauren Herring (UGA) def. Joanna Henderson (UT-W) 6-2, 6-1
2. Eve Repic (UT-W) vs. #102 Silvia Garcia (UGA) 7-5, 2-3, unfinished
3. #58 Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) def. Caitlyn Williams (UT-W) 6-3, 6-3
4. Laurence Guevremont (UT-W) vs. #109 Mariana Gould (UGA) 5-7, 2-5, unfinished
5. Victoria Olivarez (UT-W) def. #55 Hannah King (UGA) 6-3, 6-3
6. Caroline Brinson (UGA) def. Tiffany Tavares (UT-W) 6-1, 6-3
[su_spacer size=”40″] Doubles Results
1. #33 Joanna Henderson/Caitlyn Williams (UT-W) vs. #16 Lauren Herring/Ellen Perez (UGA) 4-6, unfinished
2. #20 Silvia Garcia/Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) def. Laurence Guevremont/Eve Repic (UT-W) 8-0
3. Laura Patterson/Hannah King (UGA) def. Victoria Olivarez/Tiffany Tavares (UT-W) 8-3
[su_spacer size=”40″] Order of Finish: Singles (6,5,1,3) Doubles (2,3)