MADISON, Wisc. – Facing No. 3 Florida in the consolation round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, the 7th-ranked Georgia Tech women’s tennis team recorded the first-ever program win over the Gators, defeating the defending National Team Indoors champion and 2017 NCAA Champions, 4-2. Tech improved to 5-1 on the season with the win.
DOUBLES ACTION: For the second straight contest, the doubles point came down to the final match on the court as the teams traded wins. Tech’s 52nd-ranked duo of Johnnise Renaud/Ida Jarlskog made quick work of Josie Kuhlman/McCartney Kessler, cruising to a 6-0 win on court two. But the Gators took court three to even the surface as Peggy Porter/Katie Kubicz defeated Victoria Flores/Nami Otsuka, 6-3, leaving the doubles point to be decided at the top seed where No. 3 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones led Florida’s Anna Danilina/Victoria Emma, 5-2. The Tech pair served out the match to seal the doubles point with a 6-2 win and gave the Jackets a 1-0 match lead entering singles play.
SINGLES ACTION: Despite the Jackets taking a comfortable lead with singles wins at the five and six seeds quickly, Florida drew the match down to the final two courts to decide the ultimate victor. The Gators brought the tally to 3-2 by claiming wins at the No. 2 and four seeds in straight sets, leaving the decision at either the top spot or No. 3.
Facing the No. 7 player in the country, Danilina, No. 24 Hourigan battled back from dropping the first set, 6-4, to force a deciding third set by cruising to a 6-1 second set victory. In the final set, Hourigan dropped serve to trail Danilina, 4-2, but immediately broke back as the foes moved back on serve at 4-all. With Hourigan serving at 5-4, the senior fought off a match point to hold serve and move the set to 5-5 before breaking Danilia to take a 6-5 lead. Hourigan served out the match, 7-5, to clinch the victory for Tech.
Competing at No. 3, Jarlskog’s match went unfinished despite the freshman having match point for the second day in a row. Jarlskog took the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second set to No. 96 Emma, 6-1. On serve at 3-all in the third set, both teams held serve as Jarlskog took a 5-4 third set lead. The freshman had match point, but was unable to finish her match before Hourigan clinched the Tech win.
QUOTABLE: “Today was another tough match that lasted over three hours. Our doubles teams played well and in singles, Nami [Otsuka] and Kenya [Jones] came out and played tremendous tennis. Paige [Hourigan] clinched the match at No. 1 singles against one of the best players in the country. It was a great effort after coming so close last night against Pepperdine.” – Head Coach Rodney Harmon
UP NEXT: The Jackets return to the courts to host No. 4 Georgia on Feb. 23. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. at Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
No. 7 GEORGIA TECH VS. NO. 3 FLORIDA RESULTS
Match Score: Georgia Tech 4, Florida 2
DOUBLES
1. No. 3 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones (GT) def. Anna Danilina/Victoria Emma (UF) 6-2
2. No. 52 Johnnise Renaud/Ida Jarlskog (GT) def. Josie Kuhlman/McCartney Kessler (UF) 6-0
3. Peggy Porter/Katie Kubicz (UF) def. Victoria Flores/Nami Otsuka (GT) 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES
1. No. 24 Paige Hourigan (GT) def. No. 7 Anna Danilina (UF) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
2. No. 50 Josie Kuhlman (UF) def. Johnnise Renaud (GT) 7-5, 6-3
3. No. 58 Ida Jarlskog (GT) vs. No. 96 Victoria Emma (UF) 6-4, 1-6, 5-4, DNF
4. McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Victoria Flores (GT) 6-4, 6-1
5. Kenya Jones (GT) def. Peggy Porter (UF) 6-2, 6-2
6. Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Katie Kubicz (UF) 6-1, 6-2
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