University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Penn
Georgia Secures Berth to ITA National Team Indoors
January 27, 2018 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. – A Bulldog sweep of the Pennsylvania Quakers at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts on Saturday afternoon sealed Georgia's return to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in February.
With two wins this weekend against Michigan State and Penn, Georgia improves to 18-0 during the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Athens. The championships will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, beginning on Feb. 9.
"I'm really excited for this group," Georgia head coach Jeff Wallace said. "It's a great trip out to Madison, Wisconsin. It's a great college town, almost as nice as Athens. They have a neat 12-court indoor facility and we've had a lot of success there in the past so I'm excited this group gets to experience it."
Georgia opened the match with two quick doubles wins, securing the first point of the match. On the second doubles court, freshman Annette Goulak and senior Kennedy Shaffer cruised to a 6-1 victory, followed by a familiar 6-1 final from senior Mariana Gould and freshman Katarina Jokic on the third.
After sealing the doubles point, No. 12 Jokic notched the first singles victory for the Bulldogs with a 6-1, 6-1 performance against Penn's No. 121 Lina Qostal on court one. Shaffer followed on the second, easing by Penn's Marija Curnic in similar fashion, 6-1, 6-1. On the third court, No. 51 sophomore Marta Gonzalez closed out the ITA Kick-Off Weekend with a 6-1, 6-3 win. In the second set, Gonzalez came back from a 2-1 deficit to top Ashley Zhu 6-3.
"I thought that everyone was playing good tennis," Wallace said. "Marta was playing a great player and played at a really high level all the way through. But I do think it's always a team effort. I think Katarina played well on the first court and it got close in the second but she got through and rolled."
In the consolation match on Saturday morning, Michigan State defeated Furman 4-0.
Before the Indoor Championships, Georgia plays host to Clemson on Saturday, February 3 at 4 p.m. at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts.
Tennis Match Results
#4 Georgia 4, Pennyslvania 0
Jan 27, 2018 at Athens, Ga. (Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility)
Singles Results (Order of finish: 1, 2, 3)
1. #12 Katarina Jokic def. #121 Lina Qostal 6-1, 6-1
2. Kennedy Shaffer def. Marija Curnic 6-1, 6-1
3. #51 Marta Gonzalez def. Ashley Zhu 6-0, 6-3
4. Elena Christofi vs. Jimena Rodrigez-Beni 7-5, 4-0 uf
5. #55 Morgan Coppoc vs. OJ Singh 2-0 uf
6. Mariana Gould vs. Nicole Berkman
Doubles Results (Order of finish: 2,3)
1. #6 Elena Christofi/Morgon Coppoc vs. Ashley Zhu/Lina Qostal 4-3, uf
2. Annette Goulak/Kennedy Shaffer def. OJ Singh/Jimena Rodrigez-Beni 6-1
3. #24 Mariana Gould/Katarina Jokic def. Ria Vaidya/Marija Cumic 6-1
Pennyslvania 1-1
Georgia 2-0; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (1,2,3)
ITA Kick-Off Weekend: 2nd Round. Georgia advances to National Team Indoors Official: Karen Badger-Mabry T-1:53 A-244
