ATHENS – The No. 12 Texas A&M women’s tennis team fell to No. 6 Georgia in the SEC Tournament Final Sunday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, 4-1.
Inclement weather drove the championship match indoors, and Georgia (20-4) fed off its home environment to take the early advantage in doubles play through victories on courts 2 and 3. No. 3 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres were up in their ranked matchup with No. 13 Aysegul Mert/Dasha Vidmanova (5-3) before the doubles result was clinched.
The Bulldogs secured two singles courts, before Lucciana Perez claimed a point for Aggies (22-7). The freshman outlasted Georgia junior Guillermina Grant on court 5, besting her in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) to remain perfect in singles play in the tournament (3-0).
Georgia ultimately responded and landed the final blow of the championship round, clinching the match result, 4-1.
Two Aggies were left on court, as No. 1 Stoiana was battling with No. 40 Alexandra Vecic on court 2, while Jeanette Mireles led Mai Nirundorn on court 6.
Perez and Mireles were awarded SEC All-Tournament Team honors for their performances over the weekend.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Mark Weaver on the tournament final …
“All credit to Georgia. They made good use of their home court advantage. They had a boisterous crowd, and to add on to that the indoor environment really helped them out. We made a great run at the title, but unfortunately came up short. Now it’s time to take some days off to physically and mentally refresh and get back to work and make a run at our ultimate goal of winning a national title.”
Up Next
The Aggies await seeding information for the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament which will be held at campus sites.
Match Results
Singles Results
(UGA) No. 20 Dasha Vidmanova Def. (TAMU) Carson Branstine (6-4, 6-1)(TAMU) No. 1 Mary Stoiana – (UGA) No. 40 Alexandra Vecic (6-7(4), 0-5) unfinished(UGA) No. 96 Mell Reasco Def (TAMU) No. 19 Nicole Khirin (6-1, 7-6(6))
(UGA) No. 90 Anastasiia Lopata Def. (TAMU) No. 41 Mia Kupres (6-2, 6-2)
(TAMU) Lucciana Perez Def. (UGA) Guillermina Grant (6-4, 6-3)
(TAMU) Jeanette Mireles – (UGA) Mai Nirundorn (6-4, 2-5) unfinished
Doubles Results
(TAMU) No. 3 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres – (UGA) No. 13 Aysegul Mert/Dasha Vidmanova (5-3) unfinished(UGA) No. 49 Mai Nirundorn/Guillermina Grant Def. (TAMU) Carson Branstine/Nicole Khirin (6-3)
(UGA) Anastasiia Lopata/Mell Reasco Def. (TAMU) Lucciana Perez/Jeanette Mireles (6-4)
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