MALIBU, Calif. – Georgia Tech women’s tennis battled for the doubles point, but couldn’t pull out the victory, falling 4-0 to Arizona in the opening match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. Pepperdine is playing host to the two-day tournament at the Ralph-Straus Tennis Center.
DOUBLES
In a competitive doubles point that came down to the final point, Arizona squeaked out the early lead. However, it was Tech (3-2) that claimed the first match of the day as Kylie Bilchev and Taly Licht, competing on court three, cruised against Danielle Tuhten and Teja Tirunelveli. The Jackets raced out with a 5-0 lead to open the match and sealed the win, 6-2. But Arizona evened the field with a win on court two. Kate Sharabura and Scarlett Nicholson held a 3-2 lead over Belen Nevenhoven and Josie Usereau before the Wildcats won the next four games to take the match, 6-3.
All eyes turned to court one where a battle ensued for the doubles point. Alejandra Cruz and Given Roach faced Midori Castillo-Meza and Martyna Ostrzygalo and the teams remained on serve early at 3-all. Arizona would take a 5-3 lead but the Jackets rallied back to a 5-5 standstill. The Wildcats held for a 6-5 advantage and clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 decision.
SINGLES
Arizona extended its lead to 3-0 with straight-set wins on court one and three. Castillo-Meza defeated Nicholson, 6-1, 6-2 at the top position, while Sharabura fell 6-3, 6-4 to Ostrzygalo on three.
The Wildcats clinched the match from the six seed where Bilchev battled Zoya Chulak. Arizona raced out in the first set, 3-1, and used the lead to capture the opening set, 6-3. But Bilchev battled back in the second set. The opponents remained on serve in the early going, 2-2, before the Jacket opened a 4-3 lead. But Chulak took the next two games for a 5-4 edge. Bilchev and Chulak exchanged the next few games, resulting in a 6-6 standstill. Chulak proved victorious in the tiebreak, 7-4, to clinch the match for Arizona at 4-0.
Licht led in the third set on court five before all matches went unfinished once Arizona sealed the win.
Georgia Tech returns to the courts with a pair of road matches at Illinois and Northwestern, Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. No. 52 Midori Castillo-Meza/Martyna Ostrzygalo (ARIZ) def. No. 54 Given Roach/Alejandra Cruz (GT) 7-5*
2. Belen Nevenhoven/Josie Usereau (ARIZ) def. Kate Sharabura/Scarlett Nicholson (GT) 6-3
3. Kylie Bilchev/Taly Licht (GT) def. Danielle Tuhten/Teja Tirunelveli (ARIZ) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1*
Singles
1. No. 74 Midori Castillo-Meza (ARIZ) def. Scarlett Nicholson (GT) 6-1, 6-2
2. Alejandra Cruz (GT) vs. No. 50 Josie Usereau (ARIZ) 6-3, 4-6, 3-3, DNF
3. Martyna Ostrzygalo (ARIZ) def. Kate Sharabura (GT) 6-3, 6-4
4. Given Roach (GT) vs. Danielle Tuhten (ARIZ) 4-6, 6-4, 0-1, DNF
5. Taly Licht (GT) vs. Tanvi Narendran (ARIZ) 4-6, 7-5, 4-1, DNF
6. Zoya Chulak (ARIZ) def. Kylie Bilchev (GT) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)*
Order of finish: 1,3,6*
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
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