ATLANTA (Jan. 30) — Georgia Tech freshman Charlotte Pernet defeated Middle Tennessee’s Stacy Varnell at No. 5 singles to clinch the Yellow Jackets’ 7-2 season-opening victory against the Blue Raiders in women’s collegiate tennis action Sunday afternoon at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
Pernet topped Varnell in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch the team win for Tech (1-0).
“I thought we played well today,” said first year Tech coach Bryan Shelton. “We came out and were ready to play, and it was good to see us come together as a team this early in the season.”
The Jackets swept all six of the singles matches on the day with four wins coming in straight sets. Tech’s Sabrina Pardo won at No. 1, 7-5, 6-2, over Tina Hojnik, and Yellow Jacket junior Bobbi Guthrie topped Katja Kuehner, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, at No. 2.
Freshman Jaime Wong rallied to beat Tanja Bucheim, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, after dropping her first set at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Laura Ozolins won a first-set tiebreaker and went on to a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win against Niger Kaur at No. 6.
After Tech clinched the team win in singles play, Middle Tennessee (3-3) took two of the three doubles matches, winning at the No. 1 and 3 positions. Tech*s lone victory in doubles came from freshman Mysti Morris and Wong, who beat Bucheim and Kuehner, 9-8 (2) at No. 2.
Georgia Tech returns to action next Sunday, hosting Indiana at Noon at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
#49 Georgia Tech 7, Middle Tennessee 2
Singles
No. 1 Sabrina Pardo (GT) d. Tina Hojnik (MT), 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 Bobbi Guthrie (GT) d. Katja Kuehner (MT), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
No. 3 Jaime Wong (GT) d. Tanja Bucheim (MT), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Mysti Morris (GT) d. Michaela Gridling (MT), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 Charlotte Pernet (GT) d. Stacy Varnell (MT), 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 Laura Ozolins (GT) d. Niger Kaur (MT) 7-6 (5), 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 Gridling/Hojnik (MT) d. Ozolins/Pardo (GT), 8-1
No. 2 Morris/Wong (GT) d. Bucheim/Kuehner (MT), 9-8 (2)
No. 3 Varnell/Sarah Grohnert (MT) d. Guthrie/Pernet (GT) 8-6
