Georgia tops VU, 4-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sixth-ranked Georgia would not let No. 13 Vanderbilt win a third-straight versus a top 15 team Friday afternoon, as the Bulldogs defeated the Commodores, 4-2, at the Currey Tennis Center.

The Commodores (13-5, 4-2) lost for the second time versus Georgia (13-4, 5-1) this season. The two teams played in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Athens back in January.

Vanderbilt picked up right where it left off from last weekend with wins in doubles at No. 2 and 3 to clinch the doubles point. 8725885.jpeg

Gonzales Austin and Suresh Eswaran took down the 39th-ranked duo of Nathan Pasha and Garrett Brasseaux, 9-8 (7-3). At No. 3, Rhys Johnson and Jeff Offerdahl defeated VU Singh and Austin Smith, 9-8 (7-5).

Georgia’s fifth-ranked doubles team of Hernus Pieters and Ben Wagland defeated Ryan Lipman and Marc van der Merwe, 8-4, in the top position.

The Bulldogs battled back to win the first two singles matches of the afternoon on courts No. 2 and 6. In No. 2 singles, Wagland defeated Austin in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, while Brasseaux knocked off Johnson at No. 6, 6-2, 6-4.

Lipman was then able to tie the match, 2-2 with his win in the No. 1 singles position. The redshirt junior defeated seventh-ranked Singh in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Lipman is 4-2 versus nationally-ranked opponents this season and 25-6 overall (5-1 in the SEC).

The win by Lipman would be the last point of the match for Vanderbilt, as Georgia clinched with wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles. At the No. 3 position, Pasha defeated Offerdahl, 7-5, 6-0. (Austin) Smith clinched the match after beating van der Merwe, 6-3, 6-4, in the No. 4 spot.

The Commodores take on No. 9 Tennessee Sunday at 1 p.m. in Knoxville before welcoming Auburn next Friday at 2 p.m. and Alabama next Sunday at 12 p.m. to the Currey Tennis Center.

Singles Results
1. No. 19 Ryan Lipman (VU) def. No. 7 KU Singh (UGA) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. No. 71 Ben Wagland (UGA) def. No. 54 Gonzales Austin (VU) 6-3, 6-2
3. No. 39 Nathan Pasha (UGA) def. Jeff Offerdahl (VU) 7-5, 6-0
4. Austin Smith (UGA) def. Marc van der Merwe (VU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Kris Yee (VU) vs. No. 101 Hernus Pieters (UGA) 6-7(2-7), 3-1, unfinished
6. Garrett Brasseaux (UGA) def. Rhys Johnson (VU) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles Results
1. No. 5 Pieters/Wagland (UGA) def. Lipman/van der Merwe (VU) 8-4
2. Austin/Eswaran (VU) def. No. 39 Pasha/Brasseaux (UGA) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Johnson/Offerdahl (VU) def. Singh/Smith (UGA) 9-8 (7-5)

Order of Finish
Singles: 6,2,1,3,4
Doubles: 1,3,2