Bulldogs Roll Past Hornets, 4-0, in NCAA Regional First Round

Saturday, May 2

Athens, Ga.

2:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

Alabama State

Bulldogs Roll Past Hornets, 4-0, in NCAA Regional First Round

May 02, 2026 | Women's Tennis

ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 1 Georgia women's tennis team (19-5, 12-3 SEC) opened its NCAA Tournament run in dominant fashion, sweeping Alabama State (11-10, 6-2 SWAC), 4-0, in the first round at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Saturday.

Fast Facts

The Bulldogs secured their 105th NCAA Tournament win all-time, marking a 28th-consecutive season in which they have advanced past the NCAA Regional first round.
Georgia now leads the all-time series 3-0 against Alabama State, winning all three meetings in the NCAA Regional first round (2019, 2024, 2026).
Georgia extends its home winning streak to 18 matches.
Georgia opened strong in doubles, securing the point with wins on courts three and one. Emma Dong and Anastasiia Gureva cruised to a 6-1 victory, followed by the No. 19 pair of Anastasiia Lopata and Patricija Paukstyte clinching the point, 6-2.
In singles, the Bulldogs carried momentum across the lineup, earning three straight-set victories to clinch the match. No. 93 Dong was first off the court with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win, before No. 81 Sofia Rojas followed with a 6-3, 6-0 decision.
Alexandra Vecic sealed the team victory on court five with a 6-1, 6-1 performance. The match marked Vecic's first completed dual-match appearance since Feb. 1, 2025, at North Carolina, prior to injury.

Results
Doubles:
1. #19 Anastasiia Lopata/Patricija Paukstyte (UGA) def. Diana Craciun/Melisa Mekic (ASU): 6-2
2. #4 Deniz Dilek/Aysegul Mert (UGA) vs. Cleanne Pickel/Kesmat El Tawil (ASU): 5-2, unfinished
3. Emma Dong/Anastasiia Gureva (UGA) def. Rim Assanhaji/Jovana Petrovic (ASU):6-1

Singles:
1. #19 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) vs. Diana Craciun (ASU): 6-3, 5-0, unfinished
2. #61 Anastasiia Gureva (UGA) vs. Kesmat El Tawil (ASU): 7-6(4), 1-0, unfinished
3. #93 Emma Dong (UGA) def. Melisa Mekic (ASU): 6-0, 6-0
4. #81 Sofia Rojas (UGA) def. Senna Van Den Heuvel (ASU): 6-3, 6-0
5. Alexandra Vecic (UGA) def. Jovana Petrovic (ASU): 6-1, 6-1
6. Emily Deming (UGA) vs. Cleanne Pickel (ASU): 6-4, 2-4, unfinished

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

Key Quotes:
Head Coach Drake Bernstein
On today's match...
"Great crowd here in Athens, as always. This time of year is always exciting, particularly when you've got the rest of the tournament in front of you here in Athens. Happy with the team and how we came out today, but I think we all agree that the story of the day was Alex [Vecic] and her path back to being able to be out here in this NCAA Tournament and clinch that match out there today. It was a special moment for the whole group and we're really proud of her and the work she's done to get back here."

Senior Alexandra Vecic
On coming back from an injury and competing in singles today...
"It was extremely special. Big shoutout to Kaylee [Shaver] and Josie [Szlachetka]. They have worked really hard the last one and a half years through two surgeries. Just getting back on the court was incredibly special and playing next to teammates that feel like family and staff and coaches that feel like family. Just really the whole crowd. There were so many familiar faces. It was really special. It was one of the most special moments since I've been here."

On clinching today's match...
"It was just the perfect cherry on top. The whole match I just really enjoyed playing next to Sofia [Rojas], feeling the energy. I feel like there's no other place like Dan Magill and clinching that match was just the cherry on top. It was really a perfect, happy ending today."

Up Next
The Bulldogs will face No. 31 Charlotte in the NCAA Regional second round on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. ET at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The winner will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals held on May 8-9 in Athens, Ga.

Match 26 - No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 31 Charlotte
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Athens, Georgia
Site: Dan Magill Tennis Complex
Live Video/Stats: LINK HERE
Tournament Central Page: LINK HERE

Ticket Information
Tickets for this weekend's matches are on sale online at Georgia Bulldogs | Online Ticket Office | Event Groups (evenue.net). Fans can also purchase tickets at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex beginning one hour prior to the start of the first match each day (based on availability). Tickets are $5.

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.