THE FLATS –Georgia Tech’s No. 1 doubles pair of Paige Hourigan and Kenya Jones received the automatic qualification for the ACC, while Hourigan also earned an at-large bid in singles play at the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships as the subcommittee announced Wednesday the 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams selected to compete.
The singles and doubles competition will take place May 23-28 at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex in Winston-Salem, N.C. after the conclusion of the team championship, which runs May 17-22.
Hourigan led the Jackets from the top position all season and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the country in ITA rankings. Overall this season, Hourigan posted a 19-11 record and went 13-9 in dual play to go along with an 8-4 record against ACC opponents. This marks the third at-large singles selection for the senior. Jones was placed on the singles alternate list.
Paired with Jones, the Tech doubles team spent three weeks as the No. 1 ranked duo in the country and has been ranked in the top five all season. The tandem, the top-seed in the NCAA Tournament, posted a 23-6 overall record from the No. 1 position this season and went 16-4 in dual play. When facing ACC foes, the Jacket pair went 8-3 to lead Tech. Hourigan and Jones have gone 9-3 when facing nationally-ranked opponents and have won the last seven matches.
Hourigan has earned a doubles selection all four years as a Jacket, while Jones earned her second berth. Last season, they advanced to the round of 16.
Georgia Tech will open the team portion of the NCAA Championships on May 11, facing Eastern Kentucky in the first round at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex. The Jackets will host first- and second-round action with the winner advancing to Wake Forest for the final four rounds of competition.
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