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ATHENS, Ga. - The fourth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs proved to be too tough Friday afternoon as they defeated Virginia Tech, 4-2, in the first round of the ITA Kick-Off weekend at the Hopkins Indoor Courts on the University of Georgia campus. The Hokies fall to 1-1 on the year while the Bulldogs improve to 2-0 on the young season.

The event features 60 teams, playing in 15 regionals across the nation, who will battle for the right to advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Boars Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va. The host team, No. 26 Virginia, awaits the 15 winners, in the finals which will take place Feb. 12-15.

Virginia Tech, ranked No. 55 in the ITA preseason national poll, lost both of the completed doubles matches to drop the first point, then Georgia clinched the contest winning three of the five completed singles contests.

In singles, the Hokies fell behind, 2-0, as Martha Blakely (So., Reading, Pa.) dropped a, 6-1, 6-1, decision in her No. 1 match against 14th-ranked Chelsey Gullickson. Tech got on the board as Yasmin Hamza (Jr., Cairo, Egypt) picked up an impressive, 6-3, 6-0, win in her No. 3 contest over Yvette Hyndman, however Georgia increased the lead to 3-1 when Christin Newman (Fr., Greensboro, N.C.) lost, 6-4, 6-0, at No. 2 against No. 57 Nadja Gilchrist. Shannon Betts (So., Newnan, Ga.) brought the Hokies to within 3-2 as she won a tough, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, match at No. 4 over Cameron Ellis. The Bulldogs clinched the match as Courtney Rauscher (So., Evans, Ga.) lost her No. 5 match, 6-0, 6-2, to Naoko Ueshima. Holly Johnson (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.) lost, 6-3, 6-2, in the No.6 match against Lara Fakhoury.

Georgia opened the day by winning both of the completed doubles matches to capture the first point. Betts/Newman lost, 8-3, at No. 1 to Gilchrist/Gullickson and Blakely/Johnson fell, 8-3, versus Ellis/Hyndman in the No. 2 match. Hamza/Emily Lauten (Fr., Marietta, Ga.) trailed, 4-5, in their No. 3 contest against Fakhoury/Ueshima when the match was halted since the Bulldogs has clinched the doubles point.

The Hokies return to action Saturday at 9 a.m. in a consolation match against No. 51 Georgia State. The Panthers lost Friday morning, 5-1, to No. 47 William & Mary.

#4 Georgia 5, #55 Virginia Tech 2
Singles
1. #14 Chelsey Gullickson (UGA) def. #96 Martha Blakely (VT) 6-1, 6-1
2. #57 Nadja Gilchrist (UGA) def. Christin Newman (VT) 6-4, 6-0
3. Yasmin Hamza (VT) def. Yvette Hyndman (UGA) 6-3, 6-0
4. Shannon Betts (VT) def. Cameron Ellis (UGA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
5. Naoko Ueshima (UGA) def. Courtney Rauscher (VT) 6-0, 6-2
6. Lara Fakhoury (UGA) def. Holly Johnson (VT) 6-3, 6-2 (UGA)
Finishing Order: 1, 3, 2, 4, 5*. 6

Doubles
1. Gilchrist/Gullickson (UGA) def. Betts/Newman (VT) 8-3
2. Ellis/Hyndman (UGA) def. Blakely/Johnson (VT) 8-3
3. Fakhoury/Ueshima (UGA) vs. Hamza/Emily Lauten (VT) 5-4 (UGA) DNF
Finishing Order: 1, 2*

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WTennis).