ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia Tech women’s tennis doubles team of Paige Hourigan and Kenya Jones claimed a spot in the doubles final with a hard-fought victory on Sunday in the ITA Southeast Regionals. Tech also had three Jackets compete in main draw singles quarterfinals.
After Saturday’s play, Tech placed two doubles tandems in the semifinals. After awaiting the start of the matches due to a delay caused by weather, the Tech tandem of Hourigan/Jones pulled out with a 3-1 lead over Georgia’s Gould/Jokic. The Lady Bulldogs battled back, forcing the match into a tiebreak, but the Jackets held strong, claiming the match, 8-7 (5).
In the second doubles semifinals of the night, Tech’s duo of Johnnise Renaud and Ida Jarlskog raced out to a 3-1 advantage over Ulyana Grib/Maryna Veksler (FIU). Despite gaining the early lead, the Jackets dropped the match to the Panther duo, 8-6. Tech’s Hourigan/Jones will face the FIU pair in the championship on Monday.
In singles play, Hourigan advanced to the semifinals to highlight the Yellow Jackets’ run in main draw singles. Hourigan clinched a spot in the semifinals are defeating teammate Victoria Flores in the quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-2. In the semifinals, Hourigan fell to No. 15 Anna Danilina (UF), 6-2, 7-5. Fellow senior Renaud also represented the Jackets in the quarters, but fell to Georgia’s Katarina Jokic, 6-1, 6-1.
Competing in the consolation doubles bracket, Tech’s duo of Flores and Nami Otsuka claimed the title. After advancing to the semifinals via walkover in the quarterfinals, the Jackets defeated USF’s Juliana Cardoso/Jessica Cortes, 8-3, to reach the finals. Facing Natalia Boltinskaya/Kristen Thomas (FAU) in the championship match, Tech took home the title with an 8-3 win.
The Jackets will compete for the doubles title at 10 a.m. on Monday.
GEORGIA TECH RESULTS
Sunday, Oct. 22
Singles Quarterfinals
Katarina Jokic (UGA) def. #23 Johnnise Renaud (GT) 6-1, 6-1
#49 Paige Hourigan (GT) def. Victoria Flores (GT) 6-3, 6-2
Singles Semifinals
#15 Anna Danilina (UF) def. #49 Paige Hourigan (GT) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles Semifinals
Ulyana Grib/Maryna Veksler (FIU) def. Jarlskog/Renaud (GT) 8-6
#3 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones (GT) def. Gould/Jokic (UGA) 8-7 (5)
Consolation Doubles Quarterfinals
Flores/Otsuka (GT) def. Bujan/Monsey (GSO) w/o
Consolation Doubles Semifinals
Flores/Otsuka (GT) def. Juliana Cardoso/Jessica Cortes (USF) 8-3
Consolation Doubles Finals
Flores/Otsuka (GT) def. Natalia Boltinskaya/Kristen Thomas (FAU) 8-3
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GT_WTEN), Instagram (GT_WTEN), Facebook (Georgia Tech Women’s Tennis) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com
