#15 Tigers Lose Tough Battle to #8 Virginia

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson senior Romy Koelzer, ranked 43^rd nationally, defeated the number-one singles player in the country on Friday afternoon, but the 15^th-ranked Tigers ultimately fell 4-3 to No. 8 Virginia at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the ACC, and Virginia improved to 12-5 and remained undefeated in conference play at 5-0.

The Tigers lost the doubles point for just the third time this season. Romy Koelzer and Tristen Dewar, ranked 78^th, fell to No. 23 Mercer and Morton on court two to start the match. The number one duo in the country, Beatrice Gumulya and Jessy Rompies , then won 8-2 on court one after starting the match down 0-2. Elbaba and Epstein clinched the doubles point and the 1-0 lead for Virginia with an 8-5 defeat of the Tigers’ Joana Eidukonyte and Daniela Ruiz.

In singles action, Clemson’s highest ranked player, No. 24 Eidukonyte, quickly evened the score with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 3 over No. 25 Stephanie Nauta.  No. 43 Koelzer gave Clemson the lead with a huge 6-4, 6-1 win over the top player in the country in Virginia’s Julia Elbaba. Elbaba was on a five-match win streak and was undefeated in conference play entering the match. Rompies won on court five 7-5, 6-2 to make it 3-1 Clemson, before Dewar fell at No. 4 and Ruiz fell in three sets at No. 6, evening the score at three all.  Gumulya, ranked 95^th nationally, put up a valiant effort against 30^th-ranked Danielle Collins, but eventually fell in three sets,  4-6, 6-3, 4-6.

The Tigers hit the road next, and return to the court Sunday at Syracuse at noon.  Syracuse is 6-6 overall and 1-5 in ACC play. The Orange play No. 1 North Carolina Friday at 3 p.m. before hosting the Tigers.