University of Georgia
Oklahoma
Georgia Tops Oklahoma 4-1, Advances to Quarterfinals of NCAA Tournament
May 12, 2023 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The third-ranked University of Georgia women's tennis team defeated No. 13 Oklahoma 4-1 on Friday evening before 817 spectators at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, in the round of 16 of the 2023 NCAA women's tennis tournament. Today's match marked the final home match of Georgia head coach Jeff Wallace's career.
In doubles, Georgia (25-4, 12-1 SEC) swept Oklahoma (22-10, 8-1 Big 12). The sophomore tandem of Guillermina Grant and Mai Nirundorn cruised to a 6-1 win over Alexandra Pisareva and Layne Sleeth, while Meg Kowalski and Lea Ma clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 victory over Julia Garcia Ruiz and Dana Guzman, on their graduation day.
In singles play, the Bulldogs won three matches. Grant earned the first win of the day for the Bulldogs on court six. The sophomore topped Emma Staker 6-0, 6-4 to give Georgia a 2-0 match lead. The Sooners responded with a straight-set win on court one. The Bulldogs responded with a win on court five. No. 125 Kowalski defeated Julia Garcia Ruiz 6-7(8), 6-1, 6-1. This marked her 13th consecutive victory. The match was clinched by No. 4 Dasha Vidmanova who topped No. 78 Dana Guzman in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4.
Up next, the Bulldogs will take on the winner of Michigan vs. Virginia in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, May 17 in Lake Nona, Florida. This marks the 28th time in 38 seasons that Georgia has advanced to the elite eight.
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
Georgia Head Coach Jeff Wallace
On the match and the emotions of coaching his last match at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex...
"It was an epic battle. Oklahoma came in and played unbelievable. I thought our doubles was fantastic today. We are just getting better and better every time we go out and play doubles. The crowd was amazing. Oklahoma fought like crazy in those singles matches and turned it into an epic college tennis match. I was excited to see Meg (Kowalski) get that point being a fifth-year senior and her last match she will ever play out here was really neat. Mell (Reasco) was down match point and had one of the most incredible match points I think I have ever seen in all my 38 years. To say that, up in the tie breaker, Dasha (Vidmanova) closes it out. Of course, Gigi (Grant) gets that first singles point for us. We got a lot of work to do now. We are so fortunate to go down to Orlando in the Elite Eight. There is more great tennis to play."
Georgia Sophomore Dasha Vidmanova
On the start of doubles…
"We've changed our doubles a lot this season, but we've kind of found the right balance. I think we played great doubles today on every court, and it definitely helped us in singles after that."
On pulling out the first set and the match…
"I was up 5-1 in the first set, but then I started losing. I knew that this was a big match and that I had to fight no matter what. After I won the set, when other people were coming back if they lost the first set , it definitely helped me. I was less nervous and I actually didn't expect to clinch. I expected other people to clinch, but I had the chance and did it, which was great."
Doubles Results
1. Dasha Vidmanova/Mell Reasco (UGA) vs. #5 Carmen Corley/Ivana Corley (OU) 5-4, unfinished
2. #25 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) def. #63 Layne Sleeth/Alexandra Pisareva (OU) 6-1
3. Meg Kowalski/Lea Ma (UGA) def. Julia Garcia Ruiz/Dana Guzman (OU) 6-3
Singles Results
1. #50 Layne Sleeth (OU) def. #3 Lea Ma (UGA) 6-3, 6-0
2. #4 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. #78 Dana Guzman (OU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
3. #63 Mell Reasco (UGA) vs. #110 Carmen Corley (OU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-6 (6-3), unfinished
4. #81 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) vs. Alexandra Pisareva (OU) 3-6, 6-3, 4-3, unfinished
5. #125 Meg Kowalski (UGA) def. Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) 6-7 (8-10), 6-1, 6-1
6. Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. Emma Staker (OU) 6-0, 6-4
Players Mentioned
