Tulsa, Okla. - You won't find their names in any of the NCAA tournament box scores but their teammates will tell you they've meant every bit as much to Georgia's run to the 2008 NCAA Tennis Championship final as any one of the guys at the top of the lineup.

They are the Bulldogs' three reserve players, Josh Varela, Drake Berstein and Alex Hill. The trio has been at every practice and workout, dripping just as much sweat as their teammates. And they are with them here in Tulsa where Georgia has made its way to its third national championship match in as many years.

"We wouldn't be the team we are without those guys," said Georgia senior Luis Flores, who watched them fill in when he missed several matches with broken feet this season. "They play a key role on our team and they've been with us since the beginning, practicing and running and hitting. They're as much a part of the Bulldog spirit as anybody."

Varela and Bernstein were asked to step in and compete in singles and doubles when Flores, Travis Helgeson, Christian Vitulli and Javier Garrapiz had to miss matches with either illness or injury.

In fact, Varela, a junior from Watkinsville, had a 29-11 record in singles play, including 15-5 in dual matches. Bernstein, a freshman from Winder, was 18-6 and he and Varela teamed together several times in doubles. They actually clinched the doubles point in a critical regular-season victory over Ole Miss.

"Josh could probably be playing 3 somewhere else," sophomore Jamie Hunt said. "But they all knew they were going to have to sacrifice something by coming here. They dreamed about playing Georgia tennis and they've all gotten to play a lot this year, even Alex."

Varela played so well that he made coach Manuel Diaz struggle with the decision whether or not to return Vitulli, a sophomore from Kenya, who missed several matches due to mono, to the lineup for the NCAA tournament. Ultimately Diaz went with Vitulli, who was undefeated in singles before losing in three sets in the Virginia match.

"It was a very difficult decision," Diaz said. "These guys might not get much recognition but they're as big of contributors for us as anybody."

It hasn't been hard to spot the threesome during Georgia's run here at the NCAA Championships. They are sort of a mobile motivational force, darting from match to match and providing a presence and support to whichever teammate needs it.

"You're too good, Javy, too good," they yelled to Garrapiz during a critical point against Virginia Monday night. "Close him out!"

You also spot them hauling around handfuls of bananas and energy drinks, distributing them to various teammates during timeouts and side changes.

"I love it, just love it," said Varela, who starred at Oconee County High School. "It's just the kind of person I am. Off the court I'm pretty laid back. But when it comes to tennis, I love it. I love the competition, I love getting fired up and firing up the person next to me. That's how I make it fun."

And winning is, of course, fun for all.