University of Georgia Athletics
Friday, April 12
Lexington, Ky.
5 p.m.
University of Georgia
at
No. 5 Kentucky
Photo by: Cassie Baker /UGAAA
Georgia Concludes Regular Season on Road
April 11, 2024 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 38 Georgia men's tennis team will hit the road for its final matches of the regular season. The Bulldogs will take on No. 5 Kentucky on Friday, April 12 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex and play in a doubleheader on Sunday, April 14 against No. 44 Vanderbilt and Tennessee State at the Ensworth Tennis Center.
No. 38 GEORGIA (12-11, 4-6 SEC) VS. No. 5 KENTUCKY (19-2, 10-0 SEC)
Date: April 11, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Venue: Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex
Live Stats: https://gado.gs/9pj
Live Video: https://gado.gs/bpw
CrackedRacquets Crosscourt Cast: https://gado.gs/bq2
No. 38 GEORGIA (12-11, 4-6 SEC) VS. No. 44 VANDERBILT (12-10, 3-7 SEC)
Date: April 13, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Ensworth Tennis Center
Live Stats: https://gado.gs/bpx
CrackedRacquets Crosscourt Cast: https://gado.gs/bq3
No. 38 GEORGIA (12-11, 4-6 SEC) VS. TENNESSEE STATE (3-16, 1-1 HORIZON)
Date: April 13, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Ensworth Tennis Center
MEDIA INFORMATION
Georgia Season Stats: https://gado.gs/b9y
Kentucky Season Stats: https://gado.gs/bq0
Vanderbilt Season Stats: https://gado.gs/bpy
Tennessee State Season Stats: https://gado.gs/bq1
BULLDOGS BULLETIN
The First Serve: The Bulldogs lead the series against Kentucky, 50-12. The team beat the Wildcats during the regular season on March 31, 2023, by a 5-2 score before 2,472 spectators in Athens. Georgia also played Vanderbilt at home last season, improving its record against the Commodores to 61-7 after a 7-0 sweep at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs have won eight in a row against Vanderbilt. Georgia will play its first match in program history against Tennessee State on April 14 at 5 p.m. ET. The first meeting will come at the Ensworth Tennis Center in Nashville.
Dawgs in the Rankings: Georgia kept its spot at No. 38 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings that were updated on Tuesday, April 9.
In singles, a trio of Bulldogs are featured in the rankings, led by No. 54 Thomas Paulsell, who man's court one. He is followed by the team's choice for the second court, No. 64 Ryan Colby, and court four, No. 120 Miguel Perez Peña.
Freddy Blaydes earns his career-best spot in the doubles rankings with Niels Ratiu at No. 27 as well. The pair has eight wins on court one, including four ranked wins. No. 36 Blaydes and Ratiu's highest-ranked win came on March 24 when they beat No. 29 Bozo Barun and Jared Horwood of Arkansas by a 6-2 score. Paulsell also has earned his first appearance in the doubles poll, checking in at No. 69 with partner Colby.
Rounding into Midseason Form: No. 112 Perez Peña has found his stride during the second half of the regular season. The junior has won five of his last six finished matches, with two going unfinished amid third sets. Perez Peña, a native of Castellon de Plana, Spain, is 23-13 in singles this season and has 65 career wins, both good for the most on the team.
Dynamic in Doubles: The Bulldogs have impressed in doubles action over the past four weeks, claiming the doubles point in their last eight matches. Four of the past five points have been clinched on court three, three coming from Cyrus Mahjoob and Perez Peña and one from Parker Jacques and Davis Taylor. The streak began at No. 12 Texas A&M, where Colby and Paulsell clinched the point against the Aggies. All told, Georgia is 16-2 in doubles since March 17, winning over 88 percent of its matches.
Classic City Colby: Colby has continued to impress during the dual-match season. The junior has primarily played on court two for the first time in his career, where he has nine wins, 10 of which came in straight sets. He earned his highest-ranked win in the fall over Texas' No. 17 Micah Braswell to begin his Georgia career. Colby is 9-5 against ranked opponents this year, good for second most in the conference, after starting his career 2-3.
Last Time Out: Filipe Costa earned the first clinching wins of his collegiate career in the Bulldogs' 4-0 sweeps of Southern Mississippi and No. 59 Ole Miss on Friday, April 5 at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
The redshirt sophomore helped clinch the doubles point for the first time with Cyrus Mahjoob in the Bulldogs' first match over the Eagles (7-7, 3-2 SBC). Costa, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, then capped off the day with a straight-set win on court six in singles to sweep the Rebels (9-12, 2-8 SEC).
In the day's opening match against Southern Mississippi, Georgia took the doubles point swiftly after winning its matches on courts one and two, clinched by Costa and Mahjoob. The Bulldogs clinched the win in their first meeting against the Eagles with victories in singles on courts five, three and six. Freshman Parker Jacques clinched the sweep from the sixth position, marking his first match-clinching win and moving his dual match record to 4-0.
The Bulldogs notched their second sweep of the day and seventh of the season after taking courts three, four and six in singles play. Ratiu took his fourth singles win in his last six match results in a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Isac Stromberg, his 12th straight-set victory this year. No. 121 Perez Peña pulled out his match in three sets over Lukas Engelhardt on court four to win his team-best 23rd match of the year, followed by Costa clinching his first career match on number six.
Hunt Named Next Head Coach: Former Bulldog All-American and National Champion Jamie Hunt has been named the next head coach of the Georgia men's tennis program and will begin serving in that role at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Hunt is currently in his seventh season as the associate head coach on Georgia's staff. Hunt will become the third head coach in the modern history of the program dating back to 1955, replacing the legendary Diaz, who recently announced his retirement.
Hunt played for Coach Diaz from 2007-2010 and helped lead Georgia to a pair of national championships. He returned to his alma mater in 2017 to serve as the program's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Under Hunt's leadership, Georgia has signed a top-10 class in all but one season — the No. 2 class in 2018, No. 3 in 2019, No. 10 in 2021 and most recently bringing in the top-ranked class in 2023. That recruiting success has translated to the court.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Hunt helped lead Georgia to a Southeastern Conference Championship with a perfect 12-0 mark in league play. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, and freshman Ethan Quinn captured the program's fifth NCAA singles title, joining all-time greats Mikael Pernfors (1984, 1985) and Matias Boeker (2001, 2002).
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's tennis on Facebook, Instagram and X @UGATennis or check out information online at georgiadogs.com.
No. 38 GEORGIA (12-11, 4-6 SEC) VS. No. 5 KENTUCKY (19-2, 10-0 SEC)
Date: April 11, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Venue: Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex
Live Stats: https://gado.gs/9pj
Live Video: https://gado.gs/bpw
CrackedRacquets Crosscourt Cast: https://gado.gs/bq2
No. 38 GEORGIA (12-11, 4-6 SEC) VS. No. 44 VANDERBILT (12-10, 3-7 SEC)
Date: April 13, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Ensworth Tennis Center
Live Stats: https://gado.gs/bpx
CrackedRacquets Crosscourt Cast: https://gado.gs/bq3
No. 38 GEORGIA (12-11, 4-6 SEC) VS. TENNESSEE STATE (3-16, 1-1 HORIZON)
Date: April 13, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Ensworth Tennis Center
MEDIA INFORMATION
Georgia Season Stats: https://gado.gs/b9y
Kentucky Season Stats: https://gado.gs/bq0
Vanderbilt Season Stats: https://gado.gs/bpy
Tennessee State Season Stats: https://gado.gs/bq1
BULLDOGS BULLETIN
The First Serve: The Bulldogs lead the series against Kentucky, 50-12. The team beat the Wildcats during the regular season on March 31, 2023, by a 5-2 score before 2,472 spectators in Athens. Georgia also played Vanderbilt at home last season, improving its record against the Commodores to 61-7 after a 7-0 sweep at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs have won eight in a row against Vanderbilt. Georgia will play its first match in program history against Tennessee State on April 14 at 5 p.m. ET. The first meeting will come at the Ensworth Tennis Center in Nashville.
Dawgs in the Rankings: Georgia kept its spot at No. 38 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings that were updated on Tuesday, April 9.
In singles, a trio of Bulldogs are featured in the rankings, led by No. 54 Thomas Paulsell, who man's court one. He is followed by the team's choice for the second court, No. 64 Ryan Colby, and court four, No. 120 Miguel Perez Peña.
Freddy Blaydes earns his career-best spot in the doubles rankings with Niels Ratiu at No. 27 as well. The pair has eight wins on court one, including four ranked wins. No. 36 Blaydes and Ratiu's highest-ranked win came on March 24 when they beat No. 29 Bozo Barun and Jared Horwood of Arkansas by a 6-2 score. Paulsell also has earned his first appearance in the doubles poll, checking in at No. 69 with partner Colby.
Rounding into Midseason Form: No. 112 Perez Peña has found his stride during the second half of the regular season. The junior has won five of his last six finished matches, with two going unfinished amid third sets. Perez Peña, a native of Castellon de Plana, Spain, is 23-13 in singles this season and has 65 career wins, both good for the most on the team.
Dynamic in Doubles: The Bulldogs have impressed in doubles action over the past four weeks, claiming the doubles point in their last eight matches. Four of the past five points have been clinched on court three, three coming from Cyrus Mahjoob and Perez Peña and one from Parker Jacques and Davis Taylor. The streak began at No. 12 Texas A&M, where Colby and Paulsell clinched the point against the Aggies. All told, Georgia is 16-2 in doubles since March 17, winning over 88 percent of its matches.
Classic City Colby: Colby has continued to impress during the dual-match season. The junior has primarily played on court two for the first time in his career, where he has nine wins, 10 of which came in straight sets. He earned his highest-ranked win in the fall over Texas' No. 17 Micah Braswell to begin his Georgia career. Colby is 9-5 against ranked opponents this year, good for second most in the conference, after starting his career 2-3.
Last Time Out: Filipe Costa earned the first clinching wins of his collegiate career in the Bulldogs' 4-0 sweeps of Southern Mississippi and No. 59 Ole Miss on Friday, April 5 at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
The redshirt sophomore helped clinch the doubles point for the first time with Cyrus Mahjoob in the Bulldogs' first match over the Eagles (7-7, 3-2 SBC). Costa, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, then capped off the day with a straight-set win on court six in singles to sweep the Rebels (9-12, 2-8 SEC).
In the day's opening match against Southern Mississippi, Georgia took the doubles point swiftly after winning its matches on courts one and two, clinched by Costa and Mahjoob. The Bulldogs clinched the win in their first meeting against the Eagles with victories in singles on courts five, three and six. Freshman Parker Jacques clinched the sweep from the sixth position, marking his first match-clinching win and moving his dual match record to 4-0.
The Bulldogs notched their second sweep of the day and seventh of the season after taking courts three, four and six in singles play. Ratiu took his fourth singles win in his last six match results in a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Isac Stromberg, his 12th straight-set victory this year. No. 121 Perez Peña pulled out his match in three sets over Lukas Engelhardt on court four to win his team-best 23rd match of the year, followed by Costa clinching his first career match on number six.
Hunt Named Next Head Coach: Former Bulldog All-American and National Champion Jamie Hunt has been named the next head coach of the Georgia men's tennis program and will begin serving in that role at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Hunt is currently in his seventh season as the associate head coach on Georgia's staff. Hunt will become the third head coach in the modern history of the program dating back to 1955, replacing the legendary Diaz, who recently announced his retirement.
Hunt played for Coach Diaz from 2007-2010 and helped lead Georgia to a pair of national championships. He returned to his alma mater in 2017 to serve as the program's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Under Hunt's leadership, Georgia has signed a top-10 class in all but one season — the No. 2 class in 2018, No. 3 in 2019, No. 10 in 2021 and most recently bringing in the top-ranked class in 2023. That recruiting success has translated to the court.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Hunt helped lead Georgia to a Southeastern Conference Championship with a perfect 12-0 mark in league play. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, and freshman Ethan Quinn captured the program's fifth NCAA singles title, joining all-time greats Mikael Pernfors (1984, 1985) and Matias Boeker (2001, 2002).
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's tennis on Facebook, Instagram and X @UGATennis or check out information online at georgiadogs.com.
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