University of Georgia Athletics
Garcia Says Goodbye With A Win
May 14, 2016 | Women's Tennis
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Now that's how you say farewell to a place that's meant so much to you.
Playing in the second round of the NCAA women's tennis tournament Saturday, and playing her final match at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Georgia senior Silvia Garcia clinched the fifth-seeded Bulldogs' 4-0 victory over Baylor.
Facing Rhiann Newborn at No. 3 singles, Garcia dominated stretches, overcame some adversity and savored the moments in her 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) win. Saying goodbye to your home stadium is never easy, but Garcia did it in memorable fashion.
"I just thought it was a big battle, her 99th (career) win and great for a senior to close it out," Georgia coach Jeff Wallace said.
Garcia, from Madrid, Spain, was in total control in the first set, but things shifted quickly in the second. Newborn led 3-0 and 4-1 in the second before Garcia mounted her rally.
"Once I locked in and tried to make more balls and played hard, I played a little more solid," she said. "At the end it was a battle and I think we both played great. I'm happy I was able to win it."
Even when she was down in the second, Garcia said she was able to appreciate having one last match on her home court.
"It was really special. When I was down 4-1 I was thinking, just enjoy this; even if you don't get it done, your team is going to get it done," she said. "Be out here and enjoy it because you're not going to have it again. I think that really helped me, that mindset, and being able to enjoy it and play free."
There's a big scoreboard above court No. 3, but Garcia said she wasn't watching it. Georgia (22-4) was up 3-0 for most of her second set, but she wasn't thinking about anything but what was happening on her court. Garcia said she wouldn't let volunteer assistant coach Vroni Van Berlo tell her what was happening in the matches that were still going.
"I was not looking, on purpose not looking," she said. "I kind of knew, but I didn't know how Laura (Patterson) was doing (at No. 6). I think that was good for me, just to know that no matter what I had to be on my court and fight for my team."
She fought and won, sending the Bulldogs to the round of 16 in Tulsa, Okla., where they will face Oklahoma State on Thursday.
For the first 90 minutes or so Saturday, Georgia was operating at peak efficiency. The end took some work, and a little patience, but the Bulldogs got the job done.
Georgia quickly won the doubles point with 6-3 wins at Nos. 2 and 3, and the Bulldogs kept the momentum on their side as freshman Mariana Gould, Brinson and Garcia all raced out to one-set leads. None of the three dropped more than two games in their first sets and were playing like dinner was going to be on the table any minute and they had to get home.
As it turned out, Georgia took the first set in all six singles matches, needing only three wins to clinch the victory and a spot in Tulsa. The first two came quickly.
Gould, playing Elizabeth Profit at No. 5 singles, raced to a 6-2, 6-3 win and a 2-0 Georgia lead. Then came Brinson with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Karina Traxler. It was 3-0 Dogs at that point, so who was going to get the clincher? There were options.
At No. 1, Ellen Perez was up a set and a break, but then was broken back and soon she and Baylor's Blair Shankle were in a third set. At No. 2, Kennedy Shaffer and Kiah Generette were making a marathon out of each point and game. Gould and Brinson were off the court not long after Shaffer was done taking the first set 7-5.
On No. 6, Laura Patterson won the first set, 6-3, and was in full command of the second, just points away from winning.Then opponent Theresa Van Zyl cleaned up her game and got back on serve. It was 6-5 Van Zyl when Garcia clinched and a third set seemed quite possible.
But thanks to Garcia's comeback and closeout, it wouldn't be needed.
Brinson and Gould were standing by court No. 6, cheering on Patterson, but they were following Garcia's match as closely as they could.
"How special that Silv ended up pulling it out, in her last match at home," Brinson said. "For her to come back in the second set and win that match, that's really, really special."
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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