#3 Georgia Wins a Thriller Over Columbia at ITA Kickoff in Athens, GA

In front of a full house at home at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis Center, #3 ranked Georgia of the SEC beat Columbia University 4-2 in the second match of the ITA Kickoff on January 25. But make no mistake, this was a thrilling match that was probably a little too close for comfort for the Georgia fans and team playing the 43rd ranked Lions of the Ivy League.

Garrett Brasseaux, setting up for a forehand here, teamed with Nathan Pasha for the Bulldogs as they defeated Mike Vermeer and Winston Lin 6-5(3). This clinched the doubles point for Georgia after Eric Diaz and Austin Smith beat Eric Rubin and Bert Vancura of Columbia, 6-3.

After #12 Austin Smith of Georgia, hitting a backhand here, defeated Dragos Ignat 6-3, 6-3 at number two singles, Georgia took a 3-0 lead on the Lions. But the match was far from over.

#8 Winston Lin of Columbia took the first set over #21 Nathan Pasha, 6-4, at number one singles.

Pasha won the second set 6-3, but lost in a third set tiebreaker 6-5(4). Prior to that, Bulldog teammate Ben Wagland lost to Ashok Narayana, 6-5(5), 6-3. Georgia was now leading by a much closer 3-2 score.

Georgia head coach Manny Diaz kept his team focused as Columbia put the pressure on the Dawgs.

The Georgia tennis program has had great success over the years, but Columbia was not intimidated this day.

With the match score at 3-2 for Georgia and only courts five and six still in action, the Dawgs were getting squeezed. After winning the first set 6-0 at number five singles, Hernus Pieters of Georgia, getting ready for a forehand here, lost the second set 6-4. At the same time, Nick Wood of Georgia was in trouble. Wood lost the first set of his match to Mike Vermeer 4-6 and was trailing 1-3 in the second. Momentum was in favor of Columbia.

Wood, serving here, turned it around and won the second set in a tiebreak 6-5(5).

After the second set it did not get easier for Pieters. He played tough throughout the set and was able to get the match to a tiebreak. Once the tiebreak started, he took advantage of a couple of minibreaks and ended up winning the breaker 7-3, clinching the Georgia win after four thrilling hours. That was the first win of the season for Georgia. They are hoping another strong year will lead to a spot in the NCAA Championships in May, which will be hosted at this very same facility.

Wow ... two great matches to start the tennis season.