University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
South Carolina
Georgia Tops South Carolina 4-1
March 13, 2022 | Women's Tennis
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 10th-ranked University of Georgia women's tennis team defeated the 59th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 4-1 Sunday afternoon, in Southeastern Conference play. Today's win marks the 24th consecutive SEC win by the Bulldogs, dating back to the 2019 SEC Tournament.
"We're really proud of our teams togetherness this weekend from start to finish," said Georgia associate head coach Drake Bernstein. "Today's doubles performance was another step forward. We fought tooth and nail all the way through at two and three doubles, coming from behind in each of the last games to clinch the point. Again, we came out firing in singles which is always critical after a close doubles point. We showed fight across the board and are finding our identity as fighters and a team that players together start to finish."
In doubles, Georgia (6-2, 3-0 SEC) took two-of-three from South Carolina (7-5, 2-1 SEC). After dropping the match on court one, the freshmen duo of Mell Reasco and Dasha Vidmanova came back from down 2-3 to earn a 7-5 win over Ayana Akli and Ana Cruz. With the Bulldogs and Gamecocks each holding a doubles victory, it came down to court three. The tandem of freshman Guillermina Grant and graduate Meg Kowalski overcame a 2-4 deficit to top USC's Misa Malkin and Elise Mills 7-5 and clinch the doubles point for Georgia.
In singles play, UGA picked up wins from Coppoc, No. 113 Vidmanova and No. 122 Hertel. Coppoc picked up the first win of the afternoon for the Bulldogs, dominating No. 85 Elise Mills 6-4, 6-2. She was quickly followed by Hertel who overcame a 1-4 deficit in the first set – winning 11 consecutive games – to top Ana Cruz 6-4, 6-0, while Vidmanova beat Megan Davies 6-1, 6-3 to clinch the match. No. 25 Reasco fell to No. 66 Ayana Akli in straight sets. (Note: The match was moved indoors due to low temperatures)
Next up, the Bulldogs return to Athens to host No. 4 Ohio State for a mid-week match on Wednesday, March 16 at 1 p.m.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Women's Tennis on Twitter @UGAWomensTennis, on Instagram @UGAWomensTennis, and on Facebook @GeorgiaWomensTennis or check out information online at georgiadogs.com.
Singles Results
1. #2 Sarah Hamner (SC) vs. #49 Lea Ma (UGA) 6-1, 3-6, 1-1, unfinished
2. #66 Ayana Akli (SC) def. #25 Mell Reasco (UGA) 6-3, 6-4
3. #113 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. Megan Davies (SC) 6-1, 6-3
4. Morgan Coppoc (UGA) def. #85 Elise Mills (SC) 6-4, 6-2
5. Misa Malkin (SC) vs. #71 Meg Kowalski (UGA) 1-6, 5-3, unfinished
6. #122 Ania Hertel (UGA) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles Results
1. Megan Davies/Sarah Hamner (SC) def. #62 Ania Hertel/Morgan Coppoc (UGA) 6-1
2. Mell Reasco/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. Ayana Akli/Ana Cruz (SC) 7-5
3. Guillermina Grant/Meg Kowalski (UGA) def. Misa Malkin/Elise Mills (SC) 7-5
Players Mentioned
