(Photo by John Kelley)

[break] The third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (7-3) women’s tennis team battled back from a dropped doubles point to claim a 4-1 win over in-state rival No. 23 Georgia Tech (3-3) at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility on Saturday afternoon.

 

Despite losing the doubles point with losses on courts 2 and 3, the Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders in singles play and used early wins on courts 1-3, and a clincher from Caroline Brinson on court 6, to take the match.

 

“I thought we did a great job today,” said head coach Jeff Wallace. “It’s always fun to win at home at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex and it’s even more exciting when you have the opportunity to play your in-state rival. I thought our players did a fantastic job today.”

 

Senior Lauren Herring (12) claimed the Bulldogs’ first point and drew the overall score level with a 6-2, 6-3, straight-set victory over the Yellow Jackets’ Johnnise Renaud (68) on court 1. The two-time SEC Player of the Week is now 6-1 in dual matches this spring while playing from the number one spot and 7-3 overall against ranked opposition.

 

Freshman Ellen Perez (74) followed Herring’s lead shortly thereafter with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Natasha Prokhnevska on court 2. The Shellharbour, Australia, native was down 4-1 in the first set and 2-0 in the second, but fought back both times to take the sets and the match.

 

In tune with the order of the courts they were playing on, Kennedy Shaffer (52) finished next and put the Bulldogs ahead 3-1 with a 6-4, 6-1 win against Kendal Woodard on the third court. Caroline Brinson (103) then won 6-1, 6-1 on court 6 to clinch the match for the Bulldogs at 4-1. With the win, the sophomore from New Orleans, La., remained undefeated in singles dual matches this spring (7-0).

 

Silvia Garcia and Hannah King were on course for victories at courts 4 and 5, but the match ended before either Bulldog could officially finish.

 

“I liked where Silvia was at when the match stopped,” said Wallace. “She was engaged and playing good tennis, and when Hannah and Caroline came out on the courts they were on fire the whole time. It was just a race between the two of them to see who was going to get done first. I thought Hannah played great and it’s too bad she couldn’t get one more game played because in my mind she was a huge winner today. And then for Caroline, to close out the match like she did, that was just fantastic tennis.”

 

Georgia has now won five straight matches against Georgia Tech and improves to 23-4 in the all-time series. The Bulldogs’ next match will see them remain at home to face LSU in their SEC opener on Feb. 27 at 3 p.m.

 

Singles Results

1. #12 Lauren Herring (UGA) def. #68 Johnnise Renaud (GT) 6-2, 6-3
2. #74 Ellen Perez (UGA) def. Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) 6-4, 6-2
3. #52 Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) def. Kendal Woodard (GT) 6-4, 6-1
4. #88 Silvia Garcia (UGA) vs. Megan Kurey (GT) 6-2, 5-7, 3-2, unfinished
5. #39 Hannah King (UGA) vs. Alexis Prokopuik (GT) 6-0, 4-2, unfinished
6. #103 Caroline Brinson (UGA) def. Rasheeda McAdoo (GT) 6-1, 6-1

 

Doubles Results

1. #22 Lauren Herring/Ellen Perez (UGA) def. Kendal Woodard/Megan Kurey (GT) 8-1
2. Rasheeda McAdoo/Alexis Prokopuik (GT) def. #13 Silvia Garcia/Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) 8-5
3. Johnnise Renaud/Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Hannah King/Caroline Brinson (UGA) 9-7

 

Order of Finish

Singles: (1, 3, 2)

Doubles: (1, 2, 3, 6)

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