[su_spacer size=”40″] “It’s a good place to start the season,” said Associate Head Coach Drake Bernstein. “But the most important thing is where you finish in the rankings. We’re starting in a good spot with the most in the country, but we’re looking to finish with the most, the most important being the team ranking.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Sophomore Ellen Perez, who earned All-American honors last year, took the top singles spot among the Bulldogs, coming into the season pegged at No. 29. The Shellharbour, Australia native went 20-12 in singles play a year ago, knocking off seven nationally-ranked singles opponents. Perez went 7-3 in SEC play from the Nos. 1 and 2 courts last year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Kennedy Shaffer and Hannah King, two more sophomores, came in at No. 33 and No. 55, respectively. Shaffer, a Rossford, Ohio native, boasted an 18-6 mark in 2015, going 2-0 from the No. 2 court and was selected to the All-SEC Second Team and the Freshman All-SEC squad. King, who hails from Dunwoody, Georgia, appeared on the all-tournament teams for the ITA National Team Indoors, SEC Tournament and NCAA Championships. She also went 10-1 in the SEC, finished the year on an 11-match winning streak, and was undefeated (5-0) against ranked opponents in 2015.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The two upperclassmen on the roster, Silvia Garcia (No. 58) and Caroline Brinson (No. 72) came next. Garcia, a two-time All-American, went 21-15 in singles play last year including 8-2 in the SEC. Brinson boasted a team-high 33 wins in singles play, going 20-4 in dual action with a 15-3 record on the No. 6 court.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Sophomore Mariana Gould rounded out the team’s singles rankings at No. 88. Gould went 17-6 last year in singles play, clinched two matches for Georgia and went 4-1 in SEC play.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Garcia and Shaffer, the team’s leading returning doubles pair, will begin the year ranked No. 16. The two went 17-7 last year, all on the No. 2 court, and finished the season ranked No. 38.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Perez and Gould were not far behind, coming in at No. 20. Perez was named an All-American for her doubles play last year with Lauren Herring, and the duo finished the year ranked No. 6. The Gould-Perez duo saw limited action together in 2015, going 3-2 on the year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] At No. 51 was the Brinson-King pair. Coming off an 11-7 year in 2015, the duo looks to build on a 9-5 record on the No. 3 court and finished the year on a two-match winning streak a year ago.
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