VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's tennis team put up a great effort, but fell to Georgia College in the 2023 opener Tuesday afternoon at the VSU Tennis Courts, 5-2.
 
The Bobcats (2-0) won the doubles point winning all three matches to take the early lead.  GC's Sofia Shing defeated Blazer junior Natalie Kohoutkova 6-1, 6-1 at the top spot for a 2-0 lead, but junior Blazer newcomer Olivia Pezo defeated Jada Young at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-2, for a 2-1 score. 
 
The Blazers then tied the match at 2-2 as fellow newcomer, freshman Kayla Greco, won at No. 5 6-3, 6-2, over Shradha Chhabra.  GC's Chiara Santoro downed sophomore Shaye Longwell 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4 for a 3-2 lead and then clinched the match at No. 6 as Ashton Morrison won 7-5, 6-3 over Blazer freshman Jorja Reynolds.  Blazer sophomore Anastasiia Vorobiova won the first set at No. 3 singles over Emma Fleming, 6-2, but was unable to hang on as Fleming won the second set 6-4 and the third 7-5 for a 5-2 victory.
 
VSU returns to action Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. versus Nova Southeastern at the VSU Tennis Courts in the second of five-straight home matches to begin the season.