THE FLATS – On day two of the 2022 ITA Southeast Regionals, three Yellow Jackets went undefeated as Georgia Tech collected 13 victories overall. Georgia Tech is playing host to the five-day tournament at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Georgia Tech opened the morning with a solid start as all three doubles teams secured round of 16 spots with victories. Earning the top seed in the tournament, Tech’s No. 1-ranked duo of Carol Lee and Kate Sharabura got things rolling, taking an 8-5 decision against Florida Atlantic’s Martina Kudelova and Katerina Filip. FAU gained an early break at 2-1, but the Jackets moved back on serve with a break for 4-all. The opponents traded the next three games before the Jackets broke for a 7-5 edge and closed out the victory, 8-5.
Partnering together for the first time this season, Kylie Bilchev and Alejandra Cruz pocketed an 8-4 decision against Mercer’s Naya Tillet and Eden Schlagenhauf. Tech raced out with a 4-1 lead and never looked back. Closing out doubles action, Mahak Jain and Ruth Marsh won a hard-fought decision against Jaleesa Leslie and Anique Kattenberg of UCF. On serve at 4-all, the Jackets won the next four games to pocket an 8-4 win.
The afternoon saw two rounds of singles action with the Yellow Jackets advancing three to the round of 16 on Saturday. Lee secured her spot edging Mia Mack of Miami in straight sets in first round action, 6-1, 6-3, before making quick work of Anastasia Sysoeva (Florida) in the round of 32, 6-4, 6-1.
Jain will join Lee in the round of 16 on Saturday as the junior picked up a pair of straight set wins on Friday. In first round action, Jain dropped only three games en route to a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Florida State’s Kianah Motosono. She faced Georgia’s Guillermina Grant in the second round, and after a competitive first set that Jain won 10-8 in the tiebreak, the Jacket cruised in the second set, 6-1.
Bilchev also went undefeated on the day, picking up two singles victories to advance on Saturday. The Jacket rebounded from dropping the first set against Alanna Di Franceso (Stetson) in the first round by taking the next two sets, 6-3, 6-2. She returned to action in the evening, facing Vic Allen of Florida State. Bilchev raced out of the gate and maintained momentum in the match, pocketing a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Marsh proved victorious in the first round, fighting back for a three-set win over Carla Galmiche (FAU). After dropping the first set, 6-4, the Jacket responded taking the next two, 6-2, 6-3. She faced Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) in the second round, falling, 6-0, 6-1.
Rosie Garcia Gross play a hard-fought day, taking home a victory in the first round against Bente Spee (UF), 6-4, 6-2. She played under the lights in the second round against Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU), pushing the Panther to the limit, but fell, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Cruz and Sharabura fell in main draw first round play, but both picked up consolation victories in the afternoon. Playing indoors for consolation, Cruz downed Ellie Schoppe (FSU), 7-6 (2), 6-1, while Sharabura held strong for a 6-2, 7-6 (2) over Rebekkah Gaines (FAMU).
Action continues on Saturday with two rounds of doubles – round of 16 and quarterfinals – beginning at 9 a.m. The main draw singles round of 16 will begin approximately 2 p.m., while consolation action will be played throughout the day.
RESULTS
Doubles
Round of 32
No. 1 Carol Lee/Kate Sharabura (GT) def. Martina Kudelova/Katerina Filip (FAU) 8-5
Kylie Bilchev/Alejandra Cruz (GT) def. Naya Tillet/Eden Schlagenhauf (Mercer) 8-4
Mahak Jain/Ruth Marsh (GT) def. Jaleesa Leslie/Anique Kattenberg (UCF) 8-4
Singles
Round of 64
No. 16 Carol Lee (GT) def. Mia Mack (UM) 6-1, 6-3
Mahak Jain (GT) def. Kianah Motosono (FSU) 6-2, 6-1
Ruth Marsh (GT) def. Carla Galmiche (FAU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 90 Marie Mattel (UCF) def. Alejandra Cruz (GT) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
Rachel Gailis (UF) def. Kate Sharabura (GT) 6-3, 6-4
Rosie Garcia Gross (GT) def. Bente Spee (UF) 6-4, 6-2
No. 73 Kylie Bilchev (GT) def. Alanna Di Francesco (Stetson) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Round of 32
No. 16 Carol Lee (GT) def. Anastasia Sysoeva (UF) 6-4, 6-1
Mahak Jain (GT) def. Guillermina Grant (UGA) 7-6 (10-8), 6-1
No. 79 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. Ruth Marsh (GT) 6-0, 6-1
No. 73 Kylie Bilchev (GT) def. Vic Allen (FSU) 6-2, 6-4
Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU) def. Rosie Garcia Gross (GT) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Consolation
Alejandra Cruz (GT) def. Ellie Schoppe (FSU) 7-6 (2), 6-1
Kate Sharabura (GT) def. Rebekkah Gaines (FAMU) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
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