THE FLATS – The 7th-ranked Georgia Tech women’s tennis team clinched a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships next month with a 4-1 victory over Denver in the championship match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend on Sunday.
DOUBLES ACTION: Tech took the early match lead claiming the doubles point with wins at the two and three seeds. For the second straight day, the Yellow Jacket duo of Paige Hourigan/Nadia Gizdova pocketed a victory, defeating Hada Chang/Anna Riedmiller, 6-2. Victoria Flores/Nami Otsuka clinched the doubles point from the No. 2 spot. The Tech duo held a slight 3-2 edge over Camille Anderson/Gracia Mboko before going up 5-3. Flores/Otsuka clinched the doubles point, sealing the win 6-4.
SINGLES ACTION: Tech quickly took a 3-0 match lead with victories from Flores and Otsuka. Competing at No. 4, Flores dropped just one game en route to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Mboko before Otsuka captured a 6-3, 6-0 decision over Chang at No. 5. Denver got on the scoreboard with a win at the top seed as No. 65 O’Loughlin defeated No. 49 Hourigan, 6-4, 6-3. Minutes later, freshman Ida Jarlskog clinched the match for the Jackets from the No. 3 seed. No. 89 Jarlskog went 2-0 on the weekend, picking up a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ladhani on Sunday.
With the win, Tech secured a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Madison, Wisc., Feb. 9-11. It is the second-straight year the Jackets clinched a spot in the prestigious event.
QUOTABLE: “Denver came out and played really, really well. I was really impressed with their team. I thought we started off fine in doubles. In singles, I thought the middle of our lineup really played well – our three, four and five played great. I’m happy with where we are now, but we have a long way to go to where we want to get to, but its great qualify for Indoors and win our region.” – Head Coach Rodney Harmon
UP NEXT: The Jackets continue this homestand welcoming Oregon on Sunday, Feb. 4. First serve is slated for 12 p.m. at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
No. 7 GEORGIA TECH VS. DENVER RESULTS
Match Score: Georgia Tech 4, Denver 1
DOUBLES
1. Ida Jarlskog/Johnnise Renaud (GT) vs. Bianca Mok/Julia O’Loughlin (DEN) 4-5 DNF
2. Victoria Flores/Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Camille Anderson/Gracia Mboko (DEN) 6-4
3. Paige Hourigan/Nadia Gizdova (GT) def. Hada Chang/Anna Riedmiller (DEN) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2
SINGLES
1. No. 65 Julia O’Loughlin (DEN) def. No. 49 Paige Hourigan (GT) 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 79 Johnnise Renaud (GT) vs. Bianca Mok (DEN) 6-3, 3-5 DNF
3. No. 89 Ida Jarlskog (GT) def. Arisha Ladhani (DEN) 6-4, 6-3
4. Victoria Flores (GT) def. Gracia Mboko (DEN) 6-1, 6-0
5. Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Hada Chang (DEN) 6-3, 6-0
6. Nadia Gizdova (GT) vs. Camille Anderson (DEN) 4-6, 6-2, 0-1 DNF
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 3
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