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Women's Tennis - Georgia Gwinnett College

SIX-PEAT: Georgia Gwinnett Returns to Glory Again

May 21, 2022

MOBILE, Ala. – [BRACKET | SCHEDULE]

If five crowns in a row was enough, it wasn’t apparent as No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett ran away with a sixth-consecutive national title, topping No. 2 Keiser (Fla.) by a 4-0 final on Saturday (May 21) afternoon inside the Mobile Tennis Center.

Unlike last season where the Seahawks (18-5) captured the doubles point, the Grizzlies used convincing wins to pull ahead 1-0 and never look back. GGC (17-0) has bested Keiser in four consecutive national championship matches and extends its current win streak to 59, dating back to the 2019 season.

For the sixth time in a row, Georgia Gwinnett head coach Chase Hodges was named the NAIA Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year after the match. For the second-straight season, the Grizzlies’ Iryna Lysykh earned the Marvin P. Richmond Outstanding Player honors, joining Valeria Podda (2016, 17) and Madeline Bosnjak (2018, 19) as former Grizzlies back-to-back winners.

Georgia Gwinnett’s Selina Pichler and Iryna Lysykh ran away with a 6-1 win at two doubles, and shortly after, Maria Genovese and Stephanie Fernandez posted a 6-1 win of their own at the top spot to clinch the doubles point in favor of the Grizzlies.

Just like last season, Genovese (GGC) took the top singles match, 6-0, 6-0, defeating Kanon Sorakubo (KEISER) to double the Gwinnett lead.

Moments later, Pichler (GGC) bested Kahea Companion (KEISER) 6-2, 6-1, at the second flight, setting up the showdown occurring at the four spot.

The championships' most outstanding player clinched the match as Lysykh (GGC) ousted Isabella Perez Flores (KEISER) 6-3, 6-3, prompting a rushing of the court by the Grizzlies to celebrate its newest Red Banner.

With the win, Georgia Gwinnett (17-0) continues to move closer to former NAIA member Auburn Montgomery on the all-time championships list. The Warhawks lead all programs with 14 Red Banners.