GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 19 Georgia Tech women’s tennis pressured No. 16 Florida to the final point, but could not pull out a victory in the NCAA Championships round of 32 on Saturday, falling 4-1 at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. Kylie Bilchev collected a straight-set singles victory to put Georgia Tech on the scoreboard. The Yellow Jackets concluded the 2023 season with a 16-10 overall record.
DOUBLES
The Gators took a 6-0 decision on court two before Rosie Garcia Gross and Carol Lee captured court three to leave the point to be clinched on court one. Garcia Gross and Lee raced out with a comfortable lead over Emma Shelton and Sophie Williams, 3-1. The Jackets maintained control the remainder of the match, pocketing a 6-1 decision. Bilchev and Alejandra Cruz battled back from a 4-1 deficit to 4-3 and had a chance to move back on serve, but Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee held strong to take a 5-3 edge. Bilchev held serve to setup a 5-4 tally, but Florida took the next game to clinch the doubles point for the Gators.
SINGLES
Florida added to its lead with a straight-set victory on court three before Sara Dahlstrom picked up a 6-2, 6-4 decision over Lee on court one for a 3-0 Florida lead. Bilchev put the Yellow Jackets on the scoreboard with a victory on court two. Facing Carly Briggs, Bilchev opened with a 3-0 advantage over the Gator and took the first set 6-3. The opponents were even at 3-3 in the second set before Bilchev rattled off three of the next four games to seal the match, 6-3, 6-4, for a 3-1 tally.
Georgia Tech needed the remaining three courts and rallied back on courts four and five to back on serve in the deciding sets, pressuring the Gators to earn the victory. Rachel Gailis proved to be the clinching match for Florida on court four, surviving a three-set battle against Cruz, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Cruz dominated the first set, opening a 3-0 lead and pocketed the set, 6-3. But Gailis owned the second set, 6-3, to force a third. The Gator led 3-0 in the deciding set before Cruz rallied back to 3-3. But Gailis took the next three games to clinch the match for Florida, 4-1.
On court five, Garcia Gross split sets with Emily De Oliveira, 2-6, 6-3, as the Gator held a 4-1 lead in the third set. But the Jacket buckled down and battled back to 4-all. De Oliveira held serve on a deuce point to take a 5-4 lead before Garcia Gross evened the set at 5-5. Florida took a 6-5 edge when play was suspended.
Kate Sharabura held the advantage on court six against Bente Spee when the match was suspended. Sharabura won the first set, 6-4, before Spee forced a third set with a 6-2 second set. The Jacket grabbed a 3-1 lead and held a 4-3 advantage in the final set when it was abandoned.
Bilchev and Lee will return to the courts in the NCAA Singles Championships in Lake Nona, Fla., May 22-27 at the USTA National Campus.
RESULTS
DOUBLES
1. No. 21 Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) def. Kylie Bilchev/Alejandra Cruz (GT) 6-4*
2. No. 67 Carly Briggs/Rachel Gailis (UF) def. Monika Dedaj/Kate Sharbura (GT) 6-0
3. Carol Lee/Rosie Garcia Gross (GT) def. Emma Shelton/Sophie Williams (UF) 6-1
Order of finish: 2,3,1*
*Clinched the doubles point
SINGLES
1. No. 17 Sara Dahlstrom (UF) def. No. 15 Carol Lee (GT) 6-2,6-4
2. No. 31 Kylie Bilchev (GT) def. No. 45 Carly Briggs (UF) 6-3, 6-4
3. No. 99 Alicia Dudeney (UF) def. No. 102 Mahak Jain (GT) 6-1, 6-2
4. Rachel Gailis (UF) def. No. 115 Alejandra Cruz (GT) 6-3,3-6,3-6^
5. Rosie Garcia Gross (GT) vs. Emily De Oliveira (UF) 2-6,6-3,5-6, DNF
6. Kate Sharabura (GT) vs. Bente Spee (UF) 6-4,2-6,4-3, DNF
Order of finish: 3,1,2,4^
^Clinched the overall match
Records: Georgia Tech (16-10), Florida (18-7)
NCAA Championships Round of 32
Gainesville, Fla.
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