Anna 
After a dominant 4–1 victory over No. 13 Texas A&M, the Texas Longhorns have climbed to No. 3 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, marking their highest spot since March 11.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Bulldogs, after a two-game losing streak, have dropped to No. 31, their lowest ranking since March 4.
The two teams will meet on Friday in Athens, Georgia, marking their first tennis matchup since Texas joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC). While Texas has enjoyed a dominant football rivalry with Georgia, the Bulldogs’ tennis season has been less consistent. They started with losses to No. 25 Alabama and No. 45 Auburn, putting them at 7–5. However, since then, Georgia has bounced back with a 7–3 record, including nine matches against ranked opponents.
Despite the improved performance, Georgia enters the matchup on a two-match losing streak. The Bulldogs fell 4–3 to No. 32 Florida on Thursday and 4–0 to No. 21 South Carolina on Saturday.
Against Florida, Georgia won the doubles point and gained a 2–0 lead thanks to senior Ryan Colby’s victory over No. 68 Jeremy Jin. However, Florida responded with two upset wins, tying the match at 2–2. The Gators went on to take the lead and ultimately sealed the victory with a win from freshman Niels Villard.
Georgia head coach Jamie Hunt expressed disappointment in the loss, acknowledging that while the Bulldogs played strong doubles, they failed to close out sets when needed. “We have to close our opponents out when we get that opportunity,” Hunt said. “You have to give them credit. They hung around and played tough.”
Looking ahead to Texas, Georgia will look to capitalize on its strength in doubles play. The Bulldogs boast three ranked doubles teams, including No. 23 Colby and Paulsell, No. 43 Blaydes and Ratiu, and No. 77 Peña and Pinto Sansano.
Despite Texas’ impressive 5–2 record on the road, playing in Athens presents a tough challenge. The Bulldogs are undefeated at home, with a 12–1 record at the historic Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The complex, which seats more than 5,000, has hosted the NCAA Championship 24 times, including a 13-year stretch from 1977 to 1989.
“We’ve got to get home, we’ve got to rest up, get healthy, and get ready for two big matches at home next weekend,” Hunt said after the loss to South Carolina.
Now, the No. 3 Longhorns will aim for their eighth consecutive victory over No. 31 Georgia when they meet on Friday in Athens.
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