Univ. of Georgia

ATLANTA-----University of Georgia sophomore Nadja Gilchrist fell short in her bid to capture the 2009 Wilson/ITA Southeast Regional Tennis Championship Monday.

Gilchrist, who is ranked No. 43 nationally, extended 24th-ranked Noemie Scharle (Florida State) to three sets before falling 7-5,3-6,6-4. The FSU sophomore took the first set and built a 3-0 lead before Gilchrist came storming back. The Bulldog sophomore won seven straight games to take the second set and a 1-0 lead in the final. However, Scharle responded and came away with the victory.

“It was a hard-fought match, and it was good to see Nadja battle back,” said Georgia assistant coach Frank Polito. “Once it got to the third set, it was tight the rest of the way.”

Gilchrist saw her four-match winning streak end to give her a 6-3 record this fall. It was the fourth straight three-set victory for Scharle.

The winners of the singles and doubles tournament advance to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, the second leg of the collegiate Grand Slam. This event will be held at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center in West Haven, Conn., Nov. 5-8.

The 32-player singles draw will consist of the 12 regional champions, the four Riviera/All-American semifinalists, the ITA super bowl champion, two host wildcards, 12 at-large bids and one ITA wildcard. The 16-team doubles draw is comprised of the 12 regional champions, the Riviera/All-American champion, the Super bowl champion, one host wild card and one at-large selection.

Bulldog sophomore Chelsey Gullickson will be in the ITA National Indoor field after reaching the finals of the Riviera All-American Championships earlier this month.

Up next, Georgia will play host to the U.S. Junior National Team in an exhibition this Thursday. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Admission is free.