Beyond the Hedges 3/31/2013

We've got lots of catching up to do since the last installment of Beyond the Hedges. Here's a quick rundown of results accompanied by a few quick thoughts here and there.

MEN'S TENNIS

The guys had Friday off since Mizzou doesn't have a men's tennis team. Today, they hosted Texas A&M and defeated the Aggies 4-1 after losing doubles but winning four singles. The No. 3 Dawgs, 7-1 in the SEC (15-4 over all), head to LSU Friday and Arkansas Sunday. Georgia remains atop the Conference standings.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

UGA W TEN won at Mizzou 4-0 Friday and at Texas A&M 4-2 Sunday. I watched most of the Texas A&M match via live streaming, although the Aggies' video feeds and/or web site kept having technical difficulties, making it occasionally difficult to follow. And I may have gotten a little carried away with the Facebook updates. Sorry about that. Third-ranked A&M came into the match riding a 13-game winning streak, tied for the longest in their program's history. Moreover, the Aggies were undefeated in the SEC. Today's win was huge for the Dawgs. After taking the doubles point and winning two singes matches to the Aggies' one for a 3-1 lead, play was suspended for about three hours due to weather. Shortly after resumption of play, A&M came within a point with another win. It came down to two remaining matches: Silvia Garcia at 3 and Mia King at 5. Silvia had dropped her first set but she's been doing a great job of coming from behind. But it was Mia who clinched the UGA victory with a tough 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win.

Four teams have identical 8-1 SEC records: UGA, Florida, Texas A&M, and Bama. The Dawgs, Gators, and Aggies have round-robin losses. Bama lost to Florida and has yet to play Georgia and A&M. Georgia hosts LSU and Arkansas this weekend, and Coach Jeff Wallace has a chance for his 599th and 600th career coaching wins. His current 598 are the most among active college women's tennis coaches.

BASEBALL

The Dawgs played a mid-week home-and-home series with Clemson, losing at home Tuesday night, 9-1, and winning in the Loveliest Village with a Lake Wednesday, 5-3. Today, Georgia wrapped up the series with Kentucky in Lexington, losing 3-2 in ten innings Friday, winning 7-6 Saturday, and losing 5-0 Sunday. Saturday's game was Georgia's first conference win. Two wins in a week? I guess I'll take it.

Georgia will try to even the Kennesaw State series Wednesday at Kennesaw. We lost the first game 2-1 at home back on 20 February. Mizzou is in town next weekend.

SOFTBALL

The ladies defeated Georgia Southern Wednesday, 6-3, but was swept this weekend at Arkansas, 5-2, 5-1, and 8-1. Let's hope the team gets things back on track quickly for Wednesday night's Tech game (Georgia won in Atlanta 14-1 on 13 March) and next weekend's home series against Tennessee.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

The men's team was in Indianapolis for the NCAA championships. They didn't match the women's national title but came in a solid 10th place. SEC Freshman Male Swimmer of the Year Chase Kalisz took the NCAA title in the 400-yard individual medley.

EQUESTRIAN

The inaugural SEC equestrian championship went to South Carolina this weekend in Auburn. Congrats to the Cocks. Georgia placed third among the four competing teams, ahead of Texas A&M and behind second-place Auburn. The national championships will be 17-20 April in Waco.

TRACK AND FIELD

Georgia athletes turned in strong performances this weekend in Atlanta at the Yellow Jacket Invitational. Briana Vaughn and Johnathan Smith won their 100-meter dashes; Smith also was the top collegiate finisher in the 200-meter dash.

WOMEN'S GOLF

Georgia placed sixth at the Bryan National Collegiate this weekend, and the individual medal went to Georgia's Emilie Burger.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Headed to the Elite Eight against Cal Monday night at 9:30 ADT!

SOCCER

It's spring exhibition season. After defeating Clemson 2-0 on 3 March, Georgia faced Auburn in Norcross and lost 1-0. There's an exhibition alumni match Saturday morning at 10:00 if you want to get an early start to the G Day festivities.

Happy Easter, Dawg fans. No matter how -- or even if -- you worship, may you awaken each moment to find yourself peacefully joined with all and always.

GO DAWGS!