No. 1 Bulldogs Down No. 16 South Carolina in SEC Opener

Sunday, February 22

Columbia, SC

1:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

South Carolina

No. 1 Bulldogs Down No. 16 South Carolina in SEC Opener

February 22, 2026 | Women's Tennis

ATHENS, Ga. — No. 1 Georgia women's tennis (6-1, 1-0) cruised past No. 16 South Carolina (7-2, 0-1) 4-1, in its Southeastern Conference opener at the Carolina Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.

Fast Facts

The Bulldogs now lead the all-time series 56-17, having won each of the last eight meetings against the Gamecocks.
This marks the Bulldogs fifth ranked win of the season.
In the doubles session, No. 77 Anastasiia Lopata and Patricija Paukstyte gave the Bulldogs the edge with a 6-3 win against the Gamecock's Kaitlyn Carnicella and Jane Dunyon on court two.
South Carolina picked up its lone doubles win on court three, where Jane Stojanova and Sara Borkop defeated Emily Deming and Hayden Mulberry, 6-4
No. 8 Deniz Dilek and Aysegul Mert clinched the doubles point for Georgia with a 7-6(3) victory over No. 18 Helena Buchwald and Lauren Friedman at the top spot.
With the lead going into singles, South Carolina struck first as Buchwald upset No. 7 Mert, 6-2, 6-4, on court two.
No. 30 Anastasiia Gureva responded for Georgia with a straight-sets win over Taylor Goetz, 6-3, 6-4, at the No. 4 position.
No. 48 Lopata added another point for the Bulldogs, defeating No. 63 Carnicella, 6-4, 6-4, on court one.
No. 52 Sofia Rojas sealed the team victory with a 7-6 (9), 6-3 win against South Carolina's Dunyon.

Results
Doubles:
1. #8 Deniz Dilek/Aysegul Mert (UGA) def. #18 Helena Buchwald/Lauren Friedman (SC): 7-6(3)
2. #77 Anastasiia Lopata/Patricija Paukstyte (UGA) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella/Jane Dunyon (SC): 6-3
3. Jane Stojanova/Sara Borkop (SC) def. Emily Deming/Hayden Mulberry (UGA): 6-4

Singles:
1. #48 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) def. #63 Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC): 6-4, 6-4
2. Helena Buchwald (SC) def. #7 Aysegul Mert (UGA): 6-2, 6-4
3. #41 Deniz Dilek (UGA) vs. Sara Borkop (SC): 6-0, 4-6, 2-2, unfinished
4. #30 Anastasiia Gureva (UGA) def. Taylor Goetz (SC): 6-3, 6-4
5. #52 Sofia Rojas (UGA) def. Jane Dunyon (SC): 7-6(9), 6-3
6. Emma Dong (UGA) vs. Jane Stojanova (SC): 4-6, 6-5, unfinished

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

Up Next
No. 1 Georgia will host Ole Miss in its SEC home opener and first home match of the season Thursday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. ET at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Women's Tennis on X @UGAWomensTennis, on Instagram @UGAWomensTennis, and on Facebook @GeorgiaWomensTennis or check out information online at GeorgiaDogs.com.