No. 7 Georgia Roars Past No. 49 LSU | News

ATHENS, Ga. -- The seventh-ranked Georgia Bulldogs posted its fourth straight victory by downing the 49th-ranked LSU Tigers 6-1 Sunday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

In doubles, Georgia (15-2, 5-1) quickly jumped on top of LSU (10-7, 3-3) winning at all three positions.  The No. 3 doubles tandem of Maho Kowase and Lilly Kimbell were the first team off the court by defeating Kaitlin Burns and Ariel Morton 8-3.  Kowase and Kimbell's win keeps their dual match doubles record perfect on the season at a 13-0 mark.  Kate Fuller and Lauren Herring clinched the doubles point for the Bulldogs acing past Olivia Howlett and Yvette Vlaar 8-2 at the No. 2 position.  Chelsey Gullickson and Nadja Gilchrist, ranked eighth in the nation,  finished off the sweep beating Keri Frankenberger and Whitney Wolf of LSU 8-4 at No. 1 doubles.

"I felt like we played better doubles today," said head coach Jeff Wallace.  "One of our goals for the match today was to keep doubles at a high level.  I think the scores were indicative of that."

The Bulldogs continued to show lots of fight as singles play began.  At No. 6 singles, Kimbell charged back from a 4-1 opening set deficit to defeat Vlaar 7-5, 6-0 and extend the Georgia lead to 2-0.  Kowase, ranked 40th in the nation, cruised past Frankenberger 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.  The victory gives Kowase a team leading sixth straight win and keeps her record perfect in SEC competition.  Georgia clinched the match at No. 3 singles when Gilchrist denied Burns 7-5, 6-2.    With the match already in hand, eighth-ranked Gullickson finished off Wolf by a score of 6-2, 7-5.  Fuller, ranked 69th in the nation, made the Georgia lead 6-0 with a hard fought 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) win over LSU's Ebie Wilson.  Fuller is currently riding a four-match winning streak.  The Tigers, however, would not be shutout as Howlett mounted a 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7) comeback over 51st-ranked Herring at No. 2 singles.

"I thought singles was good," said Wallace.  "We had some sets where we were down and came back and won.  I thought our players did a great job.  I appreciate everybody coming out here and supporting us today.  It was a great crowd."

The win improves the Bulldog's all-time record versus LSU to 35-4 with Georgia's last loss coming in 1985.  Georgia will try for its sixth SEC victory next Friday at 5 p.m when they travel to Lexington to square off with the Kentucky Wildcats.

#7 Georgia 6, #49 Louisiana State 1

Singles competition

1. #8 Chelsey Gullickson (UG) def. Whitney Wolf (LSU) 6-2, 7-5

2. Olivia Howlett (LSU) def. #51 Lauren Herring (UG) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)

3. Nadja Gilchrist (UG) def. Kaitlin Burns (LSU) 7-5, 6-2

4. #40 Maho Kowase (UG) def. Keri Frankenberger (LSU) 6-2, 6-3

5. #69 Kate Fuller (UG) def. Ebie Wilson (LSU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)

6. Lilly Kimbell (UG) def. Yvette Vlaar (LSU) 7-5, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Chelsey Gullickson/Nadja Gilchrist (UG) def. Whitney Wolf/Keri

Frankenberger (LSU) 8-4

2. Lauren Herring/Kate Fuller (UG) def. Olivia Howlett/Yvette Vlaar (LSU) 8-2

3. Lilly Kimbell/Maho Kowase (UG) def. Kaitlin Burns/Ariel Morton (LSU) 8-3

Match Notes:

Louisiana State 10-7, 3-3 SEC; National ranking #49

Georgia 15-2, 5-1 SEC; National ranking #7

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,4,3,1,5,2)

Official: Andy McFarlane  T-3:11  A-352