University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Georgia Tech
No. 7 Bulldogs Rally Past #13 Tech in Atlanta
January 21, 2012 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 21, 2012
ATLANTA-----Seventh-ranked Georgia rallied past 13th-ranked Georgia Tech 4-3 Saturday in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs (3-0) trailed for a majority of the six-hour match at the Bill Moore Tennis Center after dropping the first team point in doubles and the first set in all six singles contests. With the match tied at 3-all, sophomore Kate Fuller provided the clinching win at No. 5, outlasting sophomore Alex Anghelescu (who spent last season with the Bulldogs going 21-11 in singles before transferring), 5-7,6-2,6-2.
"Our team showed a lot of fight today and that's always good to see, especially this early in the season," said Georgia coach Jeff Wallace. "They realize how important that is, and they did a great job coming back."
"This was an awesome experience," said Fuller. "I am very excited to get the victory for the team; they were very supportive throughout the match. We had some chances in our doubles match but Tech played very well. Then in my singles match, I didn't start out playing my best tennis but as the match went on I started to relax. I practiced all of last year with Alex, and we both know each other's game so it was an interesting match. We're still close, and we pull for each other."
Tech (0-1) captured the doubles point by winning at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the lineup for an early 1-0 lead. The top Yellow Jacket duo of Anghelescu and Jillian O'Neill upset second-ranked Chelsey Gullickson and Nadja Gilchrist 8-5. It was just the second loss of the year for the All-American Bulldog duo, dropping them to 11-2. Georgia's No. 3 team of Lilly Kimbell and Maho Kowase outlasted Christina Ngo and Muriel Wacker 9-7. Then, Tech rallied back from a 7-6 deficit at No. 2 to claim the team point. Lynn Blau and Elizabeth Kilborn edged Fuller and Lauren Herring 9-7 to clinch the doubles for Tech.
With the match indoors, only three singles matches could be put on at one time. Tech jumped out to a fast start by taking the first set in each one. The Bulldogs responded by battling back to take the second set in all three. The No. 1 contest was the first to finish as second-ranked Gullickson registered a 2-6,6-0,6-3 win over the 45th-ranked O'Neill to even the contest at 1-all. Gullickson moved her record to 17-2 on the year. However, Tech regained the advantage when Lilley upset 22nd-ranked Kowase 6-2,4-6,6-2 in the No. 2 contest. At that point, Herring held a 3-2 lead in the final set against Kilborn in the No. 3 match and went to notch another victory for the Bulldogs. Herring's 4-6,6-4,6-3 comeback pulled Georgia even again in the match at 2-all. Herring improved to 15-4 in this her first collegiate season.
Georgia took its first lead when Gilchrist rallied past 106th-ranked Ngo in the No. 4 match. Gilchrist posted a 3-6,6-3,6-1 victory to put the Bulldogs ahead 3-2. Meanwhile, the No. 5 match between 56th-ranked Fuller and Anghelescu had split sets while Jasmine Minor was leading Kimbell 7-6,4-2 at No. 6. Minor tied the match with a 7-6,6-4 decision over Kimbell. All eyes turned to the No. 5 match where Fuller held a 3-2 lead. Fuller reeled off the next three games to clinch the victory for the Bulldogs and put her record at 15-4 this year.
Prior to Saturday, the last time Georgia dropped the doubles point and came back to post a team victory came at South Carolina last season by the identical 4-3 score.
--get results--
No. 7 Georgia 4 beats No. 13 Ga. Tech 3
Bill Moore Indoor Tennis Center, Atlanta, Ga.
Doubles
1. Jillian O'Neill/Alex Anghelescu (GT) def. #2 Chelsey Gullickson/Nadja Gilchrist (UGA) 8-5
2. Lynn Blau/Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. #60 Kate Fuller/Lauren Herring (UGA) 9-7
3. Lilly Kimbell/Maho Kowase (UGA) def. Christina Ngo/Muriel Wacker (GT) 9-7
Singles
1. #2 Gullickson (UGA) def. #45 O'Neill (GT) 2-6,6-0,6-3
2. Lilley (GT) def. #22 Kowase (UGA) 6-2,4-6,6-2
3. #52 Herring (UGA) def. Kilborn (GT) 4-6,6-4,6-3
4. Gilchrist (UGA) def. #106 Ngo (GT) 3-6,6-3,6-1
5. #56 Fuller (UGA) def. Anghelescu (GT) 5-7,6-2,6-2
6. Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Kimbell (UGA) 7-6,6-4
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,6,5)
Team Records: UGA now 3-0; GT now 0-1
