The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/16/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Daniel Shirey Senior Josh Varela sets up for a backhand against USC during the match Sunday. Varela clinched the singles match over Ivan Machado. [Click to enlarge]

A birthday is an occasion that calls for celebration. The celebration began early for the Georgia men's tennis coach Manuel Diaz as he received an early birthday present from his team.

"It's my birthday tomorrow! Winning two weekend matches, it doesn't get any better than that for a present," Diaz said.

After the Bulldogs edged No. 8 Florida 4-3 Friday, the Bulldogs defeated South Carolina 4-1 Sunday afternoon.

Bulldog senior Josh Varela clinched the match at No. 4 singles over Ivan Machado 7-6 (4) 7-6 (6).

"I played good on the big points, and just stayed mentally tough," said Varela. "It was a tough match, but I'm happy to get the clinch again, and happy to get the win here."

Halfway through the first set, a visibly frustrated Varela clinched his fists, racket in hand, and barked out the word "focus" as he struggled to remain strong against Machado.

"I would get up a break, and then I would get broken right away. I wasn't into the match. I was watching other matches," Varela said. "I needed to focus on what I was doing, and when I did do that I obviously succeeded."

Diaz noted Varela's intensity and fight, as well as the team's overall drive to succeed and be victorious on the courts as they continue to face SEC competition.

"He competes hard. He always gives you 110 percent. He's a fighter," Diaz said. "They are playing with a lot of belief and competitive spirit. We're really coming along, and I'm really seeing these guys improve."



- Rachel Bowers



Women topple Lady Gamecocks



After a heartbreaking 4-3 loss Friday to No. 23 Florida in Gainesville, Fla., the No. 2 Georgia women's tennis team responded with a better result Sunday in Columbia, S.C.

The Bulldogs (12-2, 3-1 SEC) topped the No. 22 Gamecocks (7-6, 1-3 SEC) 6-1 to complete their first two-match SEC regular season road trip of the year.

Clinching the match for Georgia was sixth-ranked Chelsey Gullickson who outlasted No. 33 Gira Schofield 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 at 1-singles, notching her team-best 26th win of the season in the process.

Senior Monika Dancevic looked to be in firm control against Natasa Vuckovic after winning the first set 6-0 but lost the second set 6-0. She regrouped and won the match 7-5 in the third to give Georgia a 2-1 lead. Nadja Gilchrist and Gullickson followed suit, each grueling out a tough three-set match. Gilchrist dropped the first set against Dijana Stojic but responded in the next two sets for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win.



- Manik K. Gupta

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