Bulldogs Conclude Play at ITA All-American Championships

Saturday, September 30

Cary, N.C.

University of Georgia

ITA All-American Championships

Bulldogs Conclude Play at ITA All-American Championships

October 08, 2023 | Women's Tennis

Cary, N.C. — After nine days and three stages of singles and doubles action, the Georgia women's tennis team concluded play at the ITA All-American Championships on Sunday.

Six Bulldogs took part in the competition with four competing in both singles and doubles brackets. Junior Dasha Vidmanova advanced all the way to the singles bracket quarterfinals while juniors Mai Nirundorn and Guillermina Grant finished as doubles bracket consolation finalists.

Several players shined in the singles bracket, as Nirundorn stole the show with a run that saw her win six consecutive matches starting in pre-qualifying and advancing to the first round of the main draw. During her run, Nirundorn did not drop a single set in any of her pre-qualifying and qualifying round matches, winning 11 of 13 sets played through seven matches. An inspiring and dominant run into main draw action came to an end in the round of 32 as Nirundorn fell in a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 loss to Kari Miller (Michigan).

Vidmanova, the only Bulldog to be included in the main draw, was spectacular through three matches as she advanced all the way into the singles quarterfinals. The Prague, Czech Republic-native served as the No. 5 seed and opened up with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory in the round of 32 followed by a grueling 7-5, 6-4 win in the round of 16. In the quarterfinal, she faced No. 2 Mary Stoiana (Texas A&M) and went toe-to-toe, but fell 7-6(3), 7-5.

Freshman Aysegul Mert picked her first career ITA competition victory as a Bulldog in the pre-qualifying draw round of 128. Serving as a No. 13 seed, Mert picked up a 6-4, 6-2 straight set win on the opening day of the tournament to set her up with a match against Southeastern Conference foe Margaux Maquet (Alabama) in the round of 68. The battle-tested first set almost leaned Mert's direction, but the Istanbul, Turkey-native ultimately fell in the match 7-6(5), 6-1.

Sophomore Anastasiia Lopata earned her first victory in the competition with a come-from-behind win against Julia Fliegner (Michigan). After trailing by one set, Lopata dominated the ensuing two sets to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. In the round of 64, Lopata held a one set lead against Malaika Rapolu, but dropped two tough sets to fall 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In the pre-qualifying round of 128, Grant and freshman Gracie Epps both fell in their respective first matches. Grant faced Taylor Cataldi (Wisconsin) and secured a first set win at 6-1. Momentum shifted towards Cataldi as Grant dropped the following two sets, falling 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 in three sets. Epps was slotted against Kallista Liu (Maryland), and while the Norman, Okla.-native remained firm in each set, she fell just short in a 6-4, 6-4 loss.

In doubles play, the duos of Nirundorn and Grant as well as Mert and Vidmanova were representing the Red and Black. Mert and Vidmonova opened up their play in the qualifying draw as the tandem went 3-for-3 on their matches and capped off the round of 16 with an 8-7(2) thriller against Victoria Erechtchenko and Radka Buzkova (Colorado State) to advance to the main draw rounds. Slotted to face the No. overall seed in the doubles main draw bracket in Reese Brantmeier and Elizabeth Scotty, Mert and Vidmanova battled from the start as both teams split the first two sets and forced a tiebreaker. The Bulldogs stayed in the match until the end, but ultimately fell 2-6, 7-5, 10-5.

No. 8 seed Nirundorn and Grant, who were included in the main draw, opened the round as they faced eventual doubles bracket winners Dana Guzman and Alina Shcherbinina (Oklahoma). The duo attempted to create rhythm in the early stages of the match, but quickly found themselves trailing after the first set. The Bulldogs pushed to get back in the match, but all momentum leaned opposite as Nirundorn and Grant fell 6-2, 6-2. Despite falling in the first round of the main draw, the duo advanced through three rounds of play to advance to the doubles consolation finals.

The Bulldogs will now shift focus and prepare to compete in the Florence 25K set to run from Oct. 9-15 in Florence, S.C.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Women's Tennis on X @UGAWomensTennis, on Instagram @UGAWomensTennis, and on Facebook @GeorgiaWomensTennis or check out information online at GeorgiaDogs.com.