#12 Tigers Defeat #14 Georgia Tech in Atlanta Wednesday

Feb. 24, 2010

ATLANTA, GA – The 12th-ranked Clemson women’s tennis team got off to a strong start in their ACC season, taking down #14 Georgia Tech, 5-2, in Atlanta. Clemson (11-2, 1-0 ACC) has a 7-2 record against ranked teams in 2010, while Georgia Tech (6-3, 0-1 ACC) has taken three losses to top 15 teams this season.

It was Clemson’s second road win over a ranked team this week, as they dispatched #24 South Carolina on Sunday. The Tigers will play a third such match, as they travel to #19 Miami on Feb. 27 for a noon showdown with the Hurricanes.

The Tigers have now won three straight matches over the Yellow Jackets, including the 2009 season and the 2008 ACC Tournament. Clemson has three road wins over ranked teams in the same season for only the second time in school history. The 1993 team accomplished the feat as well on their way to a 20-6 mark in that season.

A huge comeback at flight three helped Clemson take the doubles point, as Estefania Balda erased a 7-4 deficit to win, 9-7 and clinch the point after Laurianne Henry and Ina Hadziselimovic fell at flight one to Irina Falconi and Sasha Krupina, 8-6, putting the pressure on Balda and Ciolkowski, who rattled off five straight games.

In singles, Ina Hadziselimovic fought back at flight three to post a 7-6, 6-1 win over Viet Ha Ngo, and #65 Keri Wong outlasted #112 Sasha Krupina, 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, to give Clemson a 3-1 lead.

Laurianne Henry then clinched the match at flight five, winning 6-1, 6-0 over Elizabeth Kilborn, to win her seventh match in her last eight tries.

Estefania Balda won the first set against Hillary Davis, 7-5, before retiring to give Georgia tech their second point.

Nelly Ciolkowski then defefated Lynn Blau, 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-2) to give Clemson the 5-2 win.

The Tigers will have little rest as they travel to Miami for a Feb. 27 showdown with the #19 Hurricanes in Coral Gables. The match is scheduled to begin at noon.

#12 Clemson 5, #14 Georgia Tech 2 February 24, 2010 – Atlanta, GA

Doubles (CU Wins Doubles Pojnt) 1. Falconi/Krupina (GT) def. #16 Bek/Hadziselimovic (CU), 8-6 2. Henry/Wong (CU) def. Davis/Ha Ngo (GT), 8-4 3. Ciolkowski/Balda (CU) def. Blau/Kilborn (GT), 9-7 Oder of Finish: 2,1,3*

Singles 1. #1 Irina Falconi (GT) def. #18 Josipa Bek (CU), 6-3, 6-1 2. #65 Keri Wong (CU) def. #112 Sasha Krupina (GT), 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 3. Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) def.. Viet Ha Ngo (GT), 7-6(), 6-1 4. #90 Nelly Ciolkowski (CU) def. Lynn Blau (GT), 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-2) 5. Laurianne Henry (CU) def. Elizabeth Kilborn (GT), 6-1, 6-0 6. Hillary Davis (GT) def. Estefania Balda (CU), 5-7, ret. Order of Finish: 1,3,2,5*,6,4