University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
North Carolina
Georgia’s Memorable Run Caps Wallace’s Illustrious Career
May 19, 2023 | Women's Tennis
LAKE NONA, Fla. – Another trip to the NCAA semifinals — Georgia's 15th appearance under head coach Jeff Wallace — brings to a close Wallace's remarkable 38-year tenure as the head coach of the Bulldogs' women's tennis program.
The 2023 Southeastern Conference Tournament Champions fell to No. 1 North Carolina, 4-0, Friday evening at the USTA National Campus. Georgia ends the season with a 26-5 overall record, while UNC improves to 34-1.
Wallace, who announced earlier this month he will retire at the end of the 2022-23 season, wraps up his head coaching career with an overall record of 818-199 (.804). As the only women's tennis head coach to be named National Coach of the Year on four occasions, Wallace led Georgia to six national championships, 15 NCAA semifinals appearances and 20 Southeastern Conference titles.
"This team is very special," Coach Wallace said. "When it's your last year to coach, you want to go out with a special group. The thing I'll think back to when remembering this team is just how much heart they played with. Just the heart they brought to the courts each day and the fight they brought, the determination. You don't finish first, second or third in the three biggest tournaments without them bringing that energy to everything that we're doing. I'm really proud of this team and really excited.
"When you coach 38 teams, all 38 teams are different in their own unique way. I'm very proud. We came here thinking, 'Hey, we can win this thing.' That was in our mind. We didn't come here and think, 'Let's just get to this round.' We came here to win this thing. That was our mission, that was our goal, unfortunately, we didn't accomplish it, but it wasn't from lack of belief, lack of work, lack of desire, lack of heart or anything like that. For me, this is it. I'm going to ride off into the sunset. It's kind of appropriate that my wife is sitting in the room back there. I'll get to spend the rest of my life with her - how exciting is that? I've got two great kids and four great grandkids."
Losses at the top two doubles courts put Georgia behind early. The Bulldogs' No. 1 duo of Dasha Vidmanova and Mell Reasco fell, 6-1, before the No. 2 tandem of Gigi Grant and Mai Nirundorn lost 6-2.
In singles, Georgia lost at courts one, three and five as North Carolina tallied a trio of straight-set victories to earn the 4-0 win.
The Bulldogs won a pair of first sets, highlighted by Meg Kowalski's 6-3 advantage against Reilly Tran. The All-SEC performer ends her career with 111 singles victories and 96 doubles wins.
"Drake and Jeff mean the world to me," Kowalski said. "It's been the best five years of my life. I know Jeff said six - it feels like I've been here for 15 years - but it's been the best five years ever. I've definitely excelled on the court and become a better player, but walking out these doors today, I know I am a better person and its because of my incredible mentors and the family I've gotten at UGA."
Georgia's dual-match season ends with plenty to brag about for both programs. Perhaps most notable is that the University of Georgia is the only school in the country to have its men's team reach the NCAA quarterfinals and its women's program make the NCAA semifinals.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia vs North Carolina
May 19, 2023 at Orlando, Fla.
(USTA National Campus)
#1 North Carolina 4, #3 Georgia 0
Singles Results
1. #8 Reese Brantmeier (NC) def. #3 Lea Ma (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
2. #38 Anika Yarlagadda (NC) vs. Guillermina Grant (UGA) 4-0, unfinished
3. #1 Fiona Crawley (NC) def. #4 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) 6-1, 6-2
4. #28 Carson Tanguilig (NC) vs. #63 Mell Reasco (UGA) 2-6, 6-0, 4-1, unfinished
5. #107 Elizabeth Scotty (NC) def. #81 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
6. #100 Reilly Tran (NC) vs. #125 Meg Kowalski (UGA) 3-6, 5-4, unfinished
Doubles Results
1. Fiona Crawley/Abbey Forbes (NC) def. Mell Reasco/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) 6-1
2. Elizabeth Scotty/Carson Tanguilig (NC) def. #25 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) 6-2
3. Reese Brantmeier/Reilly Tran (NC) vs. Meg Kowalski/Lea Ma (UGA) 3-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Georgia 26-5; National ranking #3
North Carolina 34-1; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,1,5)
NCAA Semifinals
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Players Mentioned
