Univ. of Georgia Team Page
The No. 3 Georgia women's tennis team beat Arkansas 7-0 Sunday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, giving head coach Jeff Wallace his 600th career victory.
Georgia took the doubles point and won all six singles matches to pick up a win in its regular season home finale.
"It was great to get a 7-0 victory," said head coach Jeff Wallace. "Lauren did a great job on court one, and it was a great player she was playing against. It was great for her to finish that thing out."
In doubles, the 59th-ranked tandem of Lauren Herring and Maho Kowase raced to an 8-2 victory over Yang Pang and Brittany Huxely on court 2. Moments later on court 1, the fourth-ranked duo of Kate Fuller and Silvia Garcia clinched the doubles point for Georgia by defeating No. 74 Claudine Paulson and Segou Jonker 8-3. Fuller and Garcia improved their record against ranked opponents to 6-1 on the season. The No. 3 doubles match that pitted Lilly Kimbell and Ayaka Okuno versus Sarah McLean and Flavia Araujo went unfinished with the score at 4-4.
The Bulldogs took their hot start from the doubles point and never looked back. Fuller turned in one the her best performances of the year by defeating Huxley 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 4 position. Mia Kia then pushed the UGA lead to 3-0 when she defeated Jonker 6-2, 6-0 at No. 6. At No. 5, Okuno sealed the victory for Georgia by defeating Araujo 6-2, 6-1. The victory marked Okuno's first career clinch.
Georgia continued its fantastic play on court 3 when 86th-ranked Garcia claimed a win over McClean 6-2, 6-2. On court 2, 18th-ranked Kowase extended her team leading singles win streak to eleven as she beat 97th-ranked Paulson 6-2, 6-4. Arkansas continued to fight at No. 1, but eighth-ranked Lauren Herring overcame 47th-ranked Pang 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5).
With the win, Wallace, who is the nation's winningest active women's tennis coach, picks up his 600th career win, a mark only accomplished by three women's tennis coaches all-time. He is also now one of five coaches in UGA history to reach the 600-win plateau (A. Landers, 905, S. Yoculan, 834, L. Harris-Champer, 833, D. Magill, 706).
"I am just happy I can be a part of it," said Wallace on getting his 600th career win. "I am just excited about what this team is accomplishing this year. Maybe some day I can sit back and look at this, but now we have all of the most important stuff in front of us. It is just a lot of fun to be here at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. It is a wonderful experience to be able to play here in Athens at the University of Georgia.
Georgia travels to Auburn and Alabama next weekend to conclude its regular season slate.
#3 Georgia 7, #50 Arkansas 0
Singles competition
1. #8 Lauren Herring (UGA) def. #47 Yang Pang (ARK) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5)
2. #18 Maho Kowase (UGA) def. #97 Claudine Paulson (ARK) 6-2, 6-4
3. #86 Silvia Garcia (UGA) def. Sarah McLean (ARK) 6-2, 6-2
4. Kate Fuller (UGA) def. Brittany Huxley (ARK) 6-2, 6-0
5. Ayaka Okuno (UGA) def. Flavia Araujo (ARK) 6-2, 6-1
6. Mia King (UGA) def. Segou Jonker (ARK) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #4 Silvia Garcia/Kate Fuller (UGA) def. #74 Claudine Paulson/Segou Jonker (ARK) 8-3
2. #59 Lauren Herring/Maho Kowase (UGA) def. Yang Pang/Brittany Huxley (ARK) 8-2
3. Lilly Kimbell/Ayaka Okuno (UGA) vs. Flavia Araujo/Sarah McLean (ARK) 4-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Arkansas 11-13, 3-8; National ranking #50
Georgia 17-2, 10-1; National ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,6,5,3,2,1)
