COLUMBIA, S.C. – On the final day of the Carolina Kickoff, No. 25 Georgia Tech women’s tennis collected five wins – three singles victories and a pair of doubles matches. For the three-day tournament, the Yellow Jackets won 12 singles matches and five doubles matches.
Kylie Bilchev and Rosie Garcia Gross got things rolling in singles action, both taking home hard-fought victories. Bilchev, facing Wisconsin’s No. 59 Maria Sholokova, finished the tournament at 2-1 in singles, pocketing a three-set win on Sunday morning. Bilchev dropped the first set to Sholokova, but proved resilient and went up a break in the second set at 4-2 before evening the match, winning the set 6-2. Trailing 3-2 in the final set, Bilchev won the next four games to clinch the victory, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Garcia Gross kept her singles record unblemished this weekend, collecting a straight-set win on Sunday to finish the tournament, 3-0. Knotted at 5-5 against Taylor Cataldi (Wisconsin) in the first set, the Yellow Jacket took the next two games to win the set, 7-5. The opponents went back-and-forth in the second set, remaining on serve at 4-4 before Garcia Gross held at deuce for a 5-4 edge. Garcia Gross sealed the match win in the next game, 7-5, 6-4.
Alejandra Cruz wrapped up singles play for Georgia Tech, pulling out a three-set win over Alina Mukhortova (Wisconsin). Cruz took a set lead, winning the opener in a tiebreak, 7-6 (4). The Jacket dominated the tiebreak, racing out to a 5-1 lead and sealing the breaker, 7-4. Mukhortova, however, forced a final third set, claiming the second, 6-4. But the rally from Wisconsin was short-lived as Cruz was relentless in the final set, opening with a 5-0 lead before Mukhortova got on the scoreboard at 5-1. Cruz sealed the victory at 6-1 to finish the tournament, 2-1, in singles action.
Georgia Tech concluded play winning a pair of doubles matches to end the tournament on a high note. Tech’s No. 53-ranked duo of Carol Lee and Kate Sharabura topped South Carolina’s Ayana Akli and Gracie Mulville, 6-3. The Jackets got down a break early, but moved back on serve at 2-all. Tech held for a 3-2 edge and sealed the win, 6-3.
Going undefeated on the day, Bilchev and Cruz paired up to collect a 6-4 victory over Ana Cruz and Allie Gretowski (South Carolina). The pair held for an early 2-1 lead and broke South Carolina in the next game for a 3-1 advantage before clinching a 6-4 triumph.
Georgia Tech returns home on Friday, Jan. 20 to open the dual season playing host to Georgia State. First serve at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex is slated for 4 p.m.
RESULTS
SINGLES
Charmaine Seah (WISC) def. Kate Sharabura (GT) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
Rosie Garcia Gross (GT) def. Taylor Cataldi (WISC) 7-5, 6-4
No. 104 Alejandra Cruz (GT) def. Alina Mukhortova (WISC) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-1
No. 82 Ava Markham (WISC) def. No. 109 Mahak Jain (GT) 6-2, 6-3
No. 111 Kylie Bilchev (GT) def. No. 59 Maria Sholokova (WISC) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
No. 53 Carol Lee/Kate Sharabura (GT) def. Ayana Akli/Gracie Mulville (SC) 6-3
Kylie Bilchev/Alejandra Cruz (GT) def. Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-4
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
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