Feb. 20, 2015
The #23 Georgia Tech women’s tennis team (3-2) takes to the road for the first time this dual match season, traveling to in-state rival #3 Georgia (6-3) on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Time Change Notice
The match in Athens was originally scheduled for 12 p.m. but has been moved to 2 p.m.
Hourigan Undefeated
Freshman Paige Hourigan has an undefeated record in both singles, 4-0, and doubles, 5-0, this dual match season. Hourigan is Tech’s highest ranked singles player, checking in at #54, and is 2-0 on court one in singles. She is currently on a six-match winning streak and most recently clinched the Yellow Jackets’ 5-2 win vs. #31 Tennessee with a 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-1 victory against Joanna Henderson at the number one spot. In doubles, Hourigan has gone 4-0 on court two alongside both Kendal Woodard and Megan Kurey, and won her doubles match with Woodard on court one as well.
Woodard is also undefeated in doubles, going 5-0. She has recorded a 2-0 record alongside Renaud and Hourigan on court won and has won three matches with Hourgian at the number two spot.
Scouting the Opponents
#3 Georgia (6-3)
Series: Georgia leads, 22-4
The Georgia women’s tennis team is coming off a 4-1 loss to No. 3, North Carolina, during the title game at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The Bulldogs defeated No. 15 Michigan, No. 1 UCLA, and No. 5 California to make it to the championship match. In the rankings, the Bulldogs are represented on every singles court, with Lauren Herring checking in at No 12. In doubles, Silvia Garcia and Kennedy Shaffer are ranked #13 and Ellen Perez and Herring were placed at #22.
Georgia Tech is looking for its first win against the Bulldogs since the Jackets defeated #12 Georgia, 5-2, at home on March 30, 2010.
Change is Good
The Yellow Jackets have used a different singles line up in every match so far this season. Every Jacket that has played in singles has won at least one match. Freshman Paige Hourigan leads the team with four singles wins on court one and two. The Jackets have yet to lose a match on court five (4-0) with junior Megan Kurey winning twice at the five spot and sophomore Rasheeda McAdoo and freshman Alexis Prokopuik each recording one win.
Winning the Doubles Point
The Yellow Jackets have won the doubles point in four of five matches and are 3-1 when winning the doubles point. The Jackets are 0-1 when losing the doubles point. Tech won the doubles point against #38 Columbia on the way to a 4-1 win and won the doubles point against #19 Oklahoma State, but dropped the match, 4-3. Tech picked up the doubles point vs. #59 USF and #31 Tennessee.
Jackets in the Rankings
The Yellow Jackets are ranked at #23 in this week’s ITA rankings. The Jackets have two singles players and one doubles duo that is ranked.
Freshman rocketed up the rankings from #121 to #54 after going 2-0 at the number two spot and 2-0 on court one. Freshman is the #68 ranked singles player. Renaud is 2-3 so far this spring and has played at both the number one and two positions.
The doubles tandem of sophomore and freshman check in at #43 on the doubles ranking after going 6-2 during the fall. The duo won three-straight matches at the end of the fall season but have not played together yet this fall.
Strong Nonconference Schedule
The Yellow Jackets play a strong nonconference schedule with six of their seven nonconference opponents ranked in the top 45 of this week’s ITA national team rankings. All seven of their nonconference opponents are ranked in the top 65 of the national rankings. Tech picked up nonconference wins against #38 Columbia during the ITA Kickoff Weekend, against #59 USF and #31 Tennessee.
Georgia Tech is one of seven ACC schools that are ranked in the top-26 in the rankings, joining North Carolina (1), Virginia (7), Miami (9), Clemson (14), Duke (16), Georgia Tech (23) and Notre Dame (26).
Follow the Jackets
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter, @GT_WTEN, Instagram, @GT_WTEN, and Facebook, GTWomensTennis, or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
Next Up
The Yellow Jackets continue to stay on the road and open up ACC play, traveling to North Carolina on Friday at 3 p.m. and NC State on Sunday at noon.
–TogetherWeSwarm–
