The second-ranked Georgia Gwinnett women's tennis team celebrated the collegiate careers of its 2016 senior class on Sunday as it defeated NCAA Division II foe Tusculum (Tenn.) 8-1 in the Grizzlies' final home match of the season.

Prior to the match, Georgia Gwinnett (13-2) honored its three seniors, Helga Pinones-Haltenhoff, Luma Schwab, and Victoria Svensson, in a pre-match ceremony.

"An 8-1 victory over a very solid team was very impressive today," stated GGC head coach Chase Hodges.  "While the start of the day was emotional as we recognized our seniors, the women regained their focus and went to battle.  Our doubles play was key to the match's success.  Overall, I couldn't be more proud of how far this team has come and the opportunity we have to make a run at another national title."

The Grizzlies have now won three straight matches, collecting six victories against ranked opponents in the NAIA with four of the wins coming against Top 15 programs.

Today's match with Tusculum was a homecoming for former GGC assistant coach and current Pioneers head coach Adam Jackson as he visited the GGC Tennis Facility for the first time as a head coach.

Georgia Gwinnett carried a 3-0 advantage after the break as it swept doubles play.  The duo of Valeria Podda and Sophie Feller collected the Grizzlies' first win of the day, defeating the Tusculum duo of Erin Mills and Kealee Heffner 8-1.  GGC's No. 3 doubles combination of Klara Dohnalova and Pinones-Haltenhoff increased the GGC advantage to 2-0 with an 8-3 win while Alyona Vasileva and Chiara Di Salvo wrapped up the 3-0 sweep with an 8-5 win over Amanda Sumner and Franziska.

Di Salvo continued her winning ways at No. 4 singles, capturing her 13th win of the season with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Adrienne Kaye.  Podda clinched the Grizzlies' 13th victory of the season with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles over Heffner.

Dohnalova (7-6(5), 6-3), Vasileva (6-2, 6-3), and Pinones-Haltenhoff (6-1, 6-2) also picked up victories for the Grizzlies in singles play en route to the 8-1 victory.



Tusculum's lone point of the match came at No. 2 singles where Funke won a tiebreaker against Feller (6-7, 6-1, 10-5).

The Grizzlies return to action on Sunday, May 1 when they travel to Atlanta to face NCAA Division III No. 2 Emory in their regular season finale.  First serve is set for 2:00 p.m.

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Post-match interview with GGC head coach Chase Hodges: