University of Georgia Athletics
Sunday, September 23
Fort Worth, Texas
TBA
University of Georgia
vs
Big 5 Challenge
Photo by: Kristin M. Bradshaw
Three Bulldog Champions At Big 5 Challenge
September 23, 2018 | Women's Tennis
Three Bulldog Champions At Big 5 Challenge
FT. WORTH, TEXAS----- Three of the six championship singles matches ended with a Georgia Bulldog champion Sunday to cap the Big 5 Challenge at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
Junior Marta Gonzalez along with freshmen Meg Kowalski and Alee Clayton completed the sweep of the tournament, staying undefeated at 4-0 and gathering the singles championship for their singles flight. Gonzalez, ranked 76th in ITA Singles, outlasted No. 124 Janet Koch of Kansas in a third-set tiebreaker, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (6). Kowalski bested Kansas' freshman Malkia Ngounoue, 6-0, 6-3, while Clayton defeated sophomore Cameron Corse of Notre Dame in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
"It was fantastic for all three of them that won their flights," Georgia head coach Jeff Wallace said. "Really, it was a great weekend for everyone though. It was a full team effort. I thought we got a lot better but also saw some things that we can work on. It was nice to finally get out there and compete with someone other than ourselves. Lourdes (Carle) played some good tennis this weekend as did Vivian (Wolff). I feel like this team could have a special year, but it is early and there is a lot of work to be done."
Also playing in a championship singles match was freshman Lourdes Carle who fell to No. 106 Nina Khmelnitckaia of Kansas, 6-4, 7-5. The four Bulldog contingents in the six singles championship matches registered as the most by a school in a field that consisted of 13 schools. Carle, ranked 4th in ITA Newcomer list, finished 3-1 in her collegiate debut.
On the doubles side, Gonzalez and Kowalski reached a doubles championship flight, but lost 6-3 to another junior-freshman duo, Virginia's Chloe Gullickson and Amber O'Dell.
Outside of the championship matches, Georgia players picked up a pair of singles wins and doubles wins in the last day of competition. Sophomores Vivian Wolff and Annette Goulak dispatched two Kansas State Wildcats in straight set singles matches. Wolff defeated sophomore Margot Decker, ranked No. 111, 6-4, 6-4, to finish the weekend 3-1. Goulak eased past freshman Ioana Gheorghita, 6-2, 6-0 to grab her first win of the new season.
In doubles, Goulak and Clayton teamed-up to shut out Virginia's sophomore duo of Maya Das and Lizzie Baker, 6-0. Wolff and Carle edged Arizona State's Savannah Slaysman and Sammi Hampton, 7-5.
Players from 13 different schools competed in the field this week and six singles champions and three doubles tandems were crowned on Sunday.
Big 5 Challenge Results From Sunday (Georgia only)
Championship Singles results
M. Gonzalez (UGA) def. J. Koch (Kansas), 6-4, 4-6, 1-0(6)
N. Khmelnitckaia (Kansas) def. L. Carle (UGA), 6-4, 7-5
M. Kowalski (UGA) def. M. Ngounoue (Kansas), 6-0, 6-3
A. Clayton (UGA) def. C. Corse (ND), 6-1, 6-2
Championship Doubles results
Gullickson/O'Dell (UVA) def. Kowalski/Gonzalez (UGA), 6-3
Round 4 Singles results
V. Wolff (UGA) def. M. Decker (Kansas State), 6-4, 6-4
A. Goulak (UGA) def. I. Gheorghita (Kansas State), 6-2, 6-0
Round 3 Doubles results
Goulak/Clayton (UGA) def. Das/Baker (UVA), 6-0
Wolff/Carle (UGA) def. Slaysman/Hampton (Arizona State), 7-5
Junior Marta Gonzalez along with freshmen Meg Kowalski and Alee Clayton completed the sweep of the tournament, staying undefeated at 4-0 and gathering the singles championship for their singles flight. Gonzalez, ranked 76th in ITA Singles, outlasted No. 124 Janet Koch of Kansas in a third-set tiebreaker, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (6). Kowalski bested Kansas' freshman Malkia Ngounoue, 6-0, 6-3, while Clayton defeated sophomore Cameron Corse of Notre Dame in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
"It was fantastic for all three of them that won their flights," Georgia head coach Jeff Wallace said. "Really, it was a great weekend for everyone though. It was a full team effort. I thought we got a lot better but also saw some things that we can work on. It was nice to finally get out there and compete with someone other than ourselves. Lourdes (Carle) played some good tennis this weekend as did Vivian (Wolff). I feel like this team could have a special year, but it is early and there is a lot of work to be done."
Also playing in a championship singles match was freshman Lourdes Carle who fell to No. 106 Nina Khmelnitckaia of Kansas, 6-4, 7-5. The four Bulldog contingents in the six singles championship matches registered as the most by a school in a field that consisted of 13 schools. Carle, ranked 4th in ITA Newcomer list, finished 3-1 in her collegiate debut.
On the doubles side, Gonzalez and Kowalski reached a doubles championship flight, but lost 6-3 to another junior-freshman duo, Virginia's Chloe Gullickson and Amber O'Dell.
Outside of the championship matches, Georgia players picked up a pair of singles wins and doubles wins in the last day of competition. Sophomores Vivian Wolff and Annette Goulak dispatched two Kansas State Wildcats in straight set singles matches. Wolff defeated sophomore Margot Decker, ranked No. 111, 6-4, 6-4, to finish the weekend 3-1. Goulak eased past freshman Ioana Gheorghita, 6-2, 6-0 to grab her first win of the new season.
In doubles, Goulak and Clayton teamed-up to shut out Virginia's sophomore duo of Maya Das and Lizzie Baker, 6-0. Wolff and Carle edged Arizona State's Savannah Slaysman and Sammi Hampton, 7-5.
Players from 13 different schools competed in the field this week and six singles champions and three doubles tandems were crowned on Sunday.
Big 5 Challenge Results From Sunday (Georgia only)
Championship Singles results
M. Gonzalez (UGA) def. J. Koch (Kansas), 6-4, 4-6, 1-0(6)
N. Khmelnitckaia (Kansas) def. L. Carle (UGA), 6-4, 7-5
M. Kowalski (UGA) def. M. Ngounoue (Kansas), 6-0, 6-3
A. Clayton (UGA) def. C. Corse (ND), 6-1, 6-2
Championship Doubles results
Gullickson/O'Dell (UVA) def. Kowalski/Gonzalez (UGA), 6-3
Round 4 Singles results
V. Wolff (UGA) def. M. Decker (Kansas State), 6-4, 6-4
A. Goulak (UGA) def. I. Gheorghita (Kansas State), 6-2, 6-0
Round 3 Doubles results
Goulak/Clayton (UGA) def. Das/Baker (UVA), 6-0
Wolff/Carle (UGA) def. Slaysman/Hampton (Arizona State), 7-5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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