Ohio State Women's Tennis Falls to Georgia in ITA Indoor Championship Final

In a closely contested final at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, the No. 10-ranked Ohio State women's tennis team faced off against the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on February 10, 2026, at the Combe Tennis Center in Evanston, Illinois. The match concluded with Georgia edging out Ohio State 4-3, marking the Bulldogs' second consecutive championship title.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

Georgia initially took control of the match by securing the doubles point, winning on courts two and one with scores of 6-1 and 6-4, respectively. This early advantage was extended when Anastasiia Gureva defeated Ohio State's Nao Nishino on court four, putting Georgia ahead 2-0.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

Ohio State responded with a victory from No. 13-ranked Teah Chavez, who defeated No. 4-ranked Aysegul Mert 7-5, 6-4 on court two. Following this, No. 3-ranked Luciana Perry won against No. 74 Anastasiia Lopata, narrowing Georgia's lead to 3-2. Audrey Spencer then tied the match at 3-3 after defeating Emma Dong 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) on court five.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

The decisive match came down to court three, where No. 23 Deniz Dilek faced No. 114 Sophia Cisse-Ignatiev. Cisse-Ignatiev fought back after losing the first set, winning the second 6-4. However, Dilek ultimately prevailed in a tense third-set tiebreak, securing the championship for Georgia.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

Throughout the tournament, both Chavez and Spencer remained undefeated in singles matches, contributing significantly to Ohio State's journey to the final. The Buckeyes' path included victories over higher-ranked teams, such as No. 4 seed Duke and No. 1 seed North Carolina.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

Following the match, Ohio State's coach expressed pride in the team's performance, highlighting their resilience and competitive spirit throughout the tournament. The Buckeyes will look to build on this experience as they prepare for their next home match against No. 9 NC State.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

Ohio State's next match is scheduled against NC State on February 17, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Ty Tucker Tennis Center, followed by an away match at Penn State on February 19, 2026.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3

This championship match showcased the competitive nature of collegiate tennis, with both teams demonstrating skill and tenacity.

. 10 Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 1 Georgia in ITA Indoors Final, 4-3