The University of Georgia tennis program is known for its winning tradition spanning decades. This year’s team looks like it will be one of its best ever.
Just a few months after the Bulldogs lost in the national semifinals, coach Manny Diaz’s team swept the Southern Intercollegiate Championships in a tournament that ended Monday in Athens.
Junior Nathan Pasha won the singles tournament with a win over teammate Ben Wagland while the Georgia doubles team consisting of Hernus Pieters and Wagland won the doubles draw over a Vanderbilt duo.
The only matches lost by Bulldog netters were to teammates.
“It was a great start to the year,” Diaz told GeorgiaDogs.com. “To have five guys in the quarters and four in the semis – I don’t know that we have ever accomplished that. If we have it’s been a long, long time. We wanted to have a good start to the year and we did that.”
While the team season doesn’t begin until spring, there are several individual tournaments during the fall and winter that give tennis fans a good idea of what teams are the best. The Bulldogs return two seniors, two juniors and three sophomores from last year’s SEC championship squad that finished No. 3 in the country. Pieters, Wagland, Pasha and senior Grant Brasseaux are each ranked nationally.
Georgia will try to add to its trophy collection this season, which includes eight national championships and 36 SEC titles.
Next up for the Dawgs is the SEC Fall Classic in Nashville, a tournament that lasts from Thursday to Monday.
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