One of the most dominant postseason runs in collegiate sports history, the Lady Bulldogs vanquished Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, Cal, No. 8 Duke, No. 5 North Carolina and No. 2 Texas A&M en route to the program’s third team national title and first since 2000.
Yes, the path to the natty was difficult… I mean look at those seedings of the final three opponents. Then, the always pesky engineers down I-85 stood in the way in the round of 32; however, Georgia made quick work in each match. They made it look easy: 4-0, 4-0, 4-0, 4-1, 4-0, 4-0–natty secured in dominating fashion.
With Drake Bernstein as head coach for the last two years, Georgia has been to the national championship in back-to-back seasons, losing to Texas A&M in last year’s title match 4-1. Revenge was taken this year, but what a path it was for the group of seniors over the course of the last four years. With Bernstein as an assistant to the legendary Jeff Wallace, the class of 2025 lost in the round of 16 their freshman year, lost in the final four their sophomore year, lost in the finals their junior year, and finally claimed the national title after making it one step further each season.
Dominance is the only word that can describe this year’s run.
More than just the scoreboards, the Georgia lineup controlled the all-tournament team roster. See below:
Georgia’s star Dasha Vidmanova secured the triple crown of collegiate tennis as she and partner Aysegul Mert claimed the 2024 individual doubles title as well as Vidmanova’s singles title in 2024. With the team title win two weekends ago, head coach Bernstein has his career triple crown in just his second year at the helm while Vidmanova becomes just the third ever player in collegiate women’s tennis to complete the near impossible feat. The two also claimed the indoor title over Texas A&M earlier this year.
Before defeating the No. 2 Aggies in the national championship, Texas A&M handed Georgia one of its three losses on the year in the last match of the regular season. Following the 4-3 loss in April, the Bulldogs went on a nine-match win streak through the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, defeating the Aggies in the SEC Championship and national championship 4-2 and 4-0, respectively.
Despite Vidmanova’s dominance throughout the season, Texas A&M’s Mary Stoiana earned the No. 1 individual ranking going into the tournament. Vidmanova looked to prove she was, in fact, the best player in the nation and took down Stoiana 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets. The queen took back her rightful throne!
The lone point for any opposition in Georgia’s tournament run came in the quarterfinals when No. 8 Duke secured the doubles point. Georgia bounced back with four wins in singles from Guillermina Grant on court five, Anastasiia Lopata on court two, Vidmanova on court one and Mert on court four.
What a season for Bernstein and his Bulldogs! Persistence from day one to just keep working in the right direction and heads down with one goal in mind, this team achieved greatness in dominating fashion! Congrats!