ATLANTA--A short ride across town and a ranked showdown await the 54th-ranked Georgia State women's tennis team on Friday as it takes on No. 13 Georgia Tech in its first match of the ITA Division I Kick-Off Weekend.
The Panthers (2-0) follow their 2 p.m. match vs. the Yellow Jackets with an important contest on Saturday against either No. 27 South Carolina or No. 43 William & Mary. All matches of the event will be hosted at the Bill Moore Tennis Center on the campus of Georgia Tech.
The ITA Kick-Off Weekend takes place at 15 women's tennis institutions across the nation beginning Friday. Three schools travel to each host site for a four-team tournament with the winner earning a berth at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships hosted Feb. 10-13 in Charlottesville, Va.
Georgia State enters Friday on the heels of a 4-3 victory at 62nd-ranked Wake Forest last Sunday. It was the Panthers' second victory over a ranked opponent in their last three tries. Sophomore Abigail Tere-Apisah led GSU to victory with her second career victory over a nationally-ranked singles opponent. She defeated Demon Deacons senior Kayla Duncan, the 93rd-ranked player in the ITA Women's Singles Rankings, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 to secure the GSU win.
GSU, led by fifth-year head coach Miha Lisac, is looking for its first win over Georgia Tech since Apr. 13, 1994. The Yellow Jackets (1-1) are coming off a 6-1 victory over No. 68 Memphis on Sunday.
Georgia State and South Carolina have never met in women's tennis. The Panthers own a 1-5 mark all-time against William & Mary and will be looking to avenge last season's loss in the CAA Championship finals.
The Panthers moved up four spots in the most recent ITA Division I Women's National Team Rankings from No. 58 to their current No. 54 ranking announced on Tuesday.
Follow the Georgia State women's tennis team's two matches via live stats courtesy of the Georgia Tech athletics website. Check www.GeorgiaStateSports.com after each match for a full recap and box score.
Bill Moore Tennis Center
940 Fowler Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
www.GeorgiaStateSports.com
