University of Georgia Athletics
Three Bulldogs Earn All-SEC Honors
April 22, 2026 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia women's tennis team had three Bulldogs earn Southeastern Conference postseason honors, the SEC announced Wednesday.
Anastasiia Lopata, a senior from Kyiv, Ukraine, who plays at the No. 1 singles spot for the Bulldogs, earned All-SEC first-team honors. She is ranked No. 16 in the ITA singles rankings after an upset victory over Texas' No. 3-ranked Carmen Herea at the SEC Championships on Friday. Lopata posted a 6-3 singles record against SEC opponents this season. Additionally, she reached a career-high No. 10 in the ITA doubles rankings alongside partner Patricija Paukstyte, compiling a 9-2 record in conference play this season. This marks her fourth All-SEC selection and her second consecutive first-team honor.
Junior Aysegul Mert, from Istanbul, Turkey, earned her first All-SEC first-team honor. The 2024 NCAA doubles champion reached a career-high No. 6 in the ITA singles rankings and posted a 7-3 record at the No. 2 singles spot for the Bulldogs. Mert went 5-4 against ranked opponents, including a straight-set victory over Texas' No. 6-ranked Anastasia Abbagnato to send the Bulldogs to the semifinals of the SEC Championships on Friday. She and fellow Turkish teammate Deniz Dilek have also found success in doubles, ranking in the top three nationally and compiling a 15-6 overall record this season.
Deniz Dilek, a freshman from Ankara, Turkey, earned All-SEC freshman team honors following a strong debut season. She was named SEC Player of the Week after her performance at the 2026 ITA Team Indoor National Championship, where she recorded three ranked singles victories and two ranked doubles wins, including a third-set tiebreak clinch that helped Georgia secure the title. Primarily playing at the No. 3 singles spot for the Bulldogs, Dilek has compiled a 6-4 record entering NCAA postseason play. She also ranks in the top three nationally in doubles alongside Mert, posting a 15-6 overall record this season.
Follow the Dawgs
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.
Anastasiia Lopata, a senior from Kyiv, Ukraine, who plays at the No. 1 singles spot for the Bulldogs, earned All-SEC first-team honors. She is ranked No. 16 in the ITA singles rankings after an upset victory over Texas' No. 3-ranked Carmen Herea at the SEC Championships on Friday. Lopata posted a 6-3 singles record against SEC opponents this season. Additionally, she reached a career-high No. 10 in the ITA doubles rankings alongside partner Patricija Paukstyte, compiling a 9-2 record in conference play this season. This marks her fourth All-SEC selection and her second consecutive first-team honor.
Junior Aysegul Mert, from Istanbul, Turkey, earned her first All-SEC first-team honor. The 2024 NCAA doubles champion reached a career-high No. 6 in the ITA singles rankings and posted a 7-3 record at the No. 2 singles spot for the Bulldogs. Mert went 5-4 against ranked opponents, including a straight-set victory over Texas' No. 6-ranked Anastasia Abbagnato to send the Bulldogs to the semifinals of the SEC Championships on Friday. She and fellow Turkish teammate Deniz Dilek have also found success in doubles, ranking in the top three nationally and compiling a 15-6 overall record this season.
Deniz Dilek, a freshman from Ankara, Turkey, earned All-SEC freshman team honors following a strong debut season. She was named SEC Player of the Week after her performance at the 2026 ITA Team Indoor National Championship, where she recorded three ranked singles victories and two ranked doubles wins, including a third-set tiebreak clinch that helped Georgia secure the title. Primarily playing at the No. 3 singles spot for the Bulldogs, Dilek has compiled a 6-4 record entering NCAA postseason play. She also ranks in the top three nationally in doubles alongside Mert, posting a 15-6 overall record this season.
Follow the Dawgs
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.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Georgia Women's Tennis SEC Quarterfinal vs Texas Video Recap
Saturday, April 18
Georgia Women's Tennis vs Mississippi State Video Recap
Saturday, April 11
Georgia Women's Tennis vs Tennessee Video Recap
Saturday, April 04
Georgia Women's Tennis vs Kentucky Post-Game Recap
Thursday, April 02