University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Alabama
Bulldogs Lose 5-2 at Alabama
March 06, 2015 | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In a battle between two of the nation's top 10 programs, the No. 6 Georgia women's tennis team fell 5-2 at No. 9 Alabama on Friday night.
The loss sees the Bulldogs drop to 2-1 in the SEC and 9-4 overall, while the Crimson Tide improves to 2-1 in the league and 10-2 on the season.
"This was an epic SEC battle," said Georgia head coach Jeff Wallace. "Alabama had a great college tennis environment. I thought our team did a good job all the way through. We just missed a few opportunities."
The No. 16 duo of junior Silvia Garcia and freshman Kennedy Shaffer gave Georgia a bright start in doubles play with an 8-4 win on court 2. Garcia and Shaffer improved to 8-3 on the season and 2-1 in conference play with the victory.
The freshman duo ofHannah King and Mariana Gould,playing together for the first time this spring, were unable to clinch the doubles point for Georgia at 2-0 as they fell 8-5 on court 3 to bring Alabama level at 1-1.
With the doubles point hanging in the balance, the Bulldogs' No. 25 team of senior Lauren Herring and freshman Ellen Perez lost a hard-fought, 8-7 match to the nation's No. 9 ranked tandem of Erin Routliffe and Maya Jansen in a 7-5 tiebreaker.
In singles play, Alabama drew first blood with a 6-2, 6-4 win on court 2 to go up 2-0. The Crimson Tide then put itself in clinching position with a narrow 7-6 (4), 7-5 win on court 1 to go up 3-0.
Georgia managed to rally, though, pulling within one point courtesy of No. 66 H. King's 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 win on court 5 and No. 97 Garcia's 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory on court 4.
In the end, the Bulldogs' comeback attempt fell just short as the Crimson Tide pulled through with the clinching 7-4 tiebreaker in a 7-6 victory on court 3. Alabama also won at court 6 to extend the final margin of victory to 5-2.
Although the loss marks the second-consecutive regular season match in which Georgia has fallen to Alabama, the Bulldogs still hold a 40-4 all-time advantage over their SEC foe.
The Bulldogs will remain on the road for their next match at Auburn on Sunday at 2 p.m. Georgia defeated the Tigers 4-0 at home during the ITA Kick-Off Weekend earlier this season. Live stats for the match will be available here at match time.
Singles Results
1. #35 Erin Routliffe (UA) def. #6 Lauren Herring (UGA) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
2. #64 Danielle Spielmann (UA) def. #74 Ellen Perez (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
3. #56 Maya Jansen (UA) def. #69 Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
4. #97 Silvia Garcia (UGA) def. Emily Zabor (UA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
5. #66 Hannah King (UGA) def. Natalia Maynetto (UA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
6. Luicelena Perez (UA) def. #107 Caroline Brinson (UGA) 7-6 (9-7), 6-4
Doubles Results
1. #9 Erin Routliffe/Maya Jansen (UA) def. #25 Lauren Herring/Ellen Perez (UGA) 8-7 (7-5)
2. #16 Silvia Garcia/Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) def. Emily Zabor/Natalia Maynetto (UA) 8-4
3. Danielle Spielmann/Luicelena Perez (UA) def. Hannah King/Mariana Gould (UGA) 8-5
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,1,5,4,3,6)
Players Mentioned
