PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF. – Georgia sophomore Chelsey Gullickson will play for the Riveria/ITA All-American Championship singles title Sunday.

On Saturday, the second-ranked Gullickson defeated fourth-ranked Jana Juricova (California) 7-6,7-5. She will face eighth-ranked Irina Falconi (Georgia Tech) for the grand slam title.

“Chelsey played another great match today, and this tournament has been filled with close matches and incredible battles,” said Georgia coach Jeff Wallace. “She has found ways to win each day, and that’s what it’s all about because everybody is good here.”

In her road to the final, Gullickson was extended to three sets twice on Thursday, and on Friday, she won in straight sets but both were decided in tiebreakers.

The tournament features an elite field of 32 including the nation’s top-ranked players. In the other semifinal Saturday, Falconi posted a 7-5,7-6(5) win over 16th-ranked Venise Chan (Washington). Last season in a team dual match in Athens, Gullickson defeated Falconi 4-6,6-4,6-1.

Gullickson is the first Bulldog finalist at this event since Aarthi Venkatesan in 2000. Also, Marissa Catlin (1997) and Angela Lettiere (1993) were finalists. Lisa Spain won the title here in 1983.

The All-American Championships is the first of three major events of the season that attracts the nation’s top collegiate tennis players. The other national title opportunities this year are the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships (Nov. 5-8) in New Haven, Conn., and the season-ending NCAA Championships (May 26-31) in Athens, Ga.

- Georgia Sports Communications