Georgia Sports Communications/For Immediate Release
June 13, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. --- The University of Georgia women’s tennis team finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.
The Bulldogs compiled a 19-5 mark, culminating in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships, the team’s 25th straight bid under head coach Jeff Wallace.
“We moved up 10 spots from the beginning of the year, and that was the best move of any team in the final top 20,” said Wallace. “We showed tremendous improvement as the season went along, and that’s always fantastic to see. Now, we hope to build on that in 2012 as we will be playing host to the NCAA Championships.”
Georgia began the year ranked No. 18. The 2011 Bulldogs featured a pair of returning All-Americans in Chelsey Gullickson and Nadja Gilchrist, and the lineup was bolstered by six freshmen. The Bulldogs went 9-2 in the Southeastern Conference, tying for second overall. Also, they reached the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Gullickson and freshman Kate Fuller earned All-America honors after an impressive season highlighted by a strong showing at the NCAA Championships in Stanford, California.
Additionally, five Bulldogs earned year-end singles rankings along with two doubles teams. Gullickson finished the season ranked No. 14 after going 17-7 overall at the No. 1 slot, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles championships. Gullickson is now a six-time All-American. In 2012, she will take aim at becoming the first-ever eight-time women’s tennis All-American in school history.
Gilchrist was ranked No. 61 with an overall record of 15-11. Freshmen Maho Kowase and Alexandra Anghelescu finished the season at No. 82 and No. 119 respectively. Kowase, an All-SEC selection, ended the year with a team-high 31 wins. Anghelescu wound up with a record of 21-11.
After a splendid senior season, Cameron Ellis took a final ranking of No. 101 with a 29-8 overall singles record. During her final year, Ellis was chosen as a regional co-winner of the Arthur Ashe Award for Sportsmanship and Leadership, was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team, and set a school record for most combined career wins with 223. Ellis, Fuller and freshman Lilly Kimbell were named to the All-SEC Second Team.
In doubles, the duo of Gullickson and Fuller finished the season at No. 8 while the tandem of Gilchrist and Kimbell was tabbed at No. 46. Gullickson and Fuller made it to the quarterfinals of the 2011 NCAA Doubles Championships.
