Evanston, IL – In one of the most thrilling matches all tournament, the Georgia Bulldogs claimed their sixth ITA Division I Women’s National Team Indoor Title on Tuesday and their ninth national championship in program history with their 4-3 win over Ohio State.
On the heels of two semifinal matches that delivered everything that makes college tennis the sport it is, the championship match between the Bulldogs and the Buckeyes somehow took things to yet another level with many momentum shifts and a third set tiebreak on singles court three to determine the national champion.
Beginning with doubles, it was Georgia who got the upper hand over Ohio State, earning victories on courts No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take the one point advantage headed into singles play.
In singles, the Bulldogs started fast with breaks on numerous courts before Ohio State countered and drew the match into almost a stalemate for much of the match. With the Buckeyes earning wins on singles courts No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 while Georgia claimed courts No. 4 and No. 6, the match locked up at three all with the deciding match being on court No. 3 with the third set tiebreaker just getting underway as the score leveled.
Going down 0-5 to Sophia Cisse-Ignatiev (Ohio State), the freshman Deniz Dilek (Georgia) quickly flipped the script when her back was against the wall, clawing back into the match before eventually clinching for Georgia at 9-7 in the third set breaker.
For head coach Drake Bernstein, this marks his third national championship and sixth overall title since taking over as the head coach prior to the 2024 college tennis season.
Results
Doubles:
1. Deniz Dilek/Aysegul Mert (UGA) def. #13 Hephzibah Oluwadare/Teah Chavez (OSU): 6-4
2. Anastasiia Lopata/Patricija Paukstyte (UGA) def. #55 Luciana Perry/Flora Johnson (OSU): 6-1
3. Emma Dong/Anastasiia Gureva (UGA) vs. Sophia Cisse-Ignatiev/Audrey Spencer (OSU): 5-5 (unfinished)
Singles:
1. #3 Luciana Perry (OSU) def. #74 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA): 7-6(4), 6-4
2. #13 Teah Chavez (OSU) def. #4 Aysegul Mert (UGA): 7-5, 6-4
3. #23 Deniz Dilek (UGA) def. #114 Sophia Cisse-Ignatiev (OSU): 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(9-7)
4. #33 Anastasiia Gureva (UGA) def. #52 Nao Nishino (OSU): 6-2, 6-2
5. Audrey Spencer (OSU) def. Emma Dong (UGA): 6-4, 7-6(9-7)
6. #42 Sofia Rojas (UGA) vs. Hephzibah Oluwadare (OSU): 7-6(3), 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3)
