ATHENS, Ga. – For just the second time in history, Georgia Tech women’s tennis knocked off Georgia in Athens. The Jackets, ranked 11th in the latest ITA polls, defeated No. 5/13 Georgia 4-3 Friday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
DOUBLES ACTION: Georgia Tech took a crucial early lead winning the doubles point for the 10th time this season with victories on courts one and two. The 7th-ranked duo of Rasheeda McAdoo and Johnnise Renaud pulled ahead early on court one, coming out with a 3-1 lead. The Jackets eventually took the match 6-2 over Ellen Perez/Elena Christofi. Trailing 4-2 on court two, the No. 30 tandem of Paige Hourigan and Kenya Jones dominated the rest of the match, winning the next four points and breaking serve to pull out a 6-4 come-from-behind triumph to clinch the doubles point over Caroline Brinson/Kennedy Shaffer.
SINGLES PLAY: In a heart racing match, it all came down to the final two courts for the win. To open singles play, Georgia evened the match at 1-1 with a straight set win at court six before Hourigan returned the lead, 2-1, to the Jackets, winning 6-2, 6-3 on court two over No. 44 Kennedy Shaffer. Tech took a 3-1 lead as Jones defeated Brinson on court four in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, leaving the Jackets one point away from clinching the match.
The Bulldogs would extend the match, winning on court one as Perez defeated Renaud in three sets for a 3-2 Tech lead. All eyes turned to court five where Otsuka forced a third set against Gould. Georgia grabbed set one in a tiebreak before Otsuka rebounded with a 6-2 second set victory. The Yellow Jacket freshman clinched a memorable match for Tech, winning set three 6-4 as Tech claimed a 4-2 victory. Georgia took court three for the final 4-3 score.
The win marked just the fifth in program history for Tech over Georgia and second in Athens. Tech first defeated the Bulldogs in Athens in 2005, which was also the first victory for Tech over Georgia in program history.
QUOTABLE: “It was a great team win today! Georgia has such a great team. It was really a battle. I am proud of our girls. We have to enjoy this win quickly and prepare for a very good Florida State team on Sunday. “ – Head Coach Rodney Harmon
UP NEXT: Georgia Tech returns home to open ACC play on Sunday, welcoming Florida State for a 12 p.m. first serve at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
No. 11 Georgia Tech at No. 13 Georgia Results
Match Score: No. 11 Georgia Tech 4, No. 13 Georgia 3
DOUBLES
1. No. 7 Rasheeda McAdoo/Johnnise Renaud (Georgia Tech) def. Ellen Perez/Elena Christofi, 6-2
2. No. 30 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones (GT) def. Caroilne Brinson/Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) 6-4
3. Luca Fabian/Nami Otsuka (GT) vs. Mariana Gould/Marla Gonzalez (UGA), 4-4 DNF
Order of finish: 1, 2
Point: Georgia Tech
SINGLES
1. No. 62 Ellen Perez (UGA) def. Johnnise Renaud (GT) 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-3
2. Paige Hourigan (GT) vs. No. 44 Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) 6-2, 6-3
3. No. 15 Elena Christofi (UGA) def. No. 71 Rasheeda McAdoo (GT) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5)
4. Kenya Jones (GT) vs. No. 41 Caroline Brinson (UGA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
5. No. 102 Nami Otsuka (GT) vs. Mariana Gould (UGA) 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4
6. No. 111 Marla Gonzalez (UGA) def. Nadia Gizdova (GT) 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: 6, 2, 4, 1, 5, 3
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