The Georgia Gwinnett College women's tennis team opened defense of its 2017 NAIA national championship with a 5-0 victory against SCAD Atlanta Wednesday afternoon. This advances the Grizzlies to the quarterfinals of this year's national tournament.

"This was a great opening match for us. The women's team is really starting to play well at the right time," said Head Coach Chase Hodges. "We are excited to be in the final eight and look forward to a tough opponent tomorrow."

The No. 2-seeded GGC (15-2) team quickly grabbed a lead in the Round of 16 match by claiming victories on all three doubles courts.

The tandem of junior Gabrielle Robinson and sophomore Maria Prados Cid won eight of the 10 games at No. 3 doubles. The same match result came from sophomore Emerald Able and freshman Madeline Bosnjak at the top of the doubles lineup. Then, junior Henar Munoz and sophomore Margarida Abreu scored an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles.

Then, Munoz won by identical 6-1 set scores at No. 3 singles, while sophomore Chiara Rebecchi picked up a 6-2, 6-0 victory on the No. 6 court to seal the victory.

Players were leading on the remaining four singles courts for the Grizzlies.

The team waited through a lightning delay after Munoz gave GGC a 4-0 lead in the match.

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College plays the winner of the Round of 16 match between No. 7-seeded University of Northwestern Ohio and No. 10-seeded William Woods University (Mo.) in Thursday's quarterfinals, scheduled to start at 10 a.m.