#14 Clemson Downs College of Charleston,7-0, in Season-Opener

Jan. 23, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – The 14^th-ranked Clemson women’s tennis team started the season with a 7-0 victory over #68 College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon at the Clemson Indoor Tennis Center. The Tigers will take on #43 VCU on Sunday at 12:00 pm in the Tennis Center.

“I was very pleased. They needed this match to get started,” said Nancy Harris. “We have a difficult match tomorrow and I think this one will help them and get them a little match tougher, but Charleston played well. I was hoping everyone would have success today and certainly they did. Hopefully that momentum will carry into tomorrow.”

The Tigers, who have advanced to five of the past Sweet 16s, swept the Cougars, moving to 1-0 on the season. Clemson swept the doubles point, with Ina Hadziselimovic and Laurianne Henry teamed up to win, 8-1, while Estefania Balda and Josipa Bek took their match, 8-2.

Bek, the 9^th-ranked player nationally, won her match against Holly Dowse at the top flight, 6-4,6-1. At flight two, Keri Wong defeated #114 Emma Hayman, 6-2, 6-3. Hadziselimovic, ranked 113^th, pulled a slight upset, taking down #102 Kinsey Casey, 6-0, 6-1 at flight three earning Clemson’s first singles point of the season.

Ciolkowski, the nation’s 61^st-tanked player won at flight four, 7-5, 6-3, while Laurianne Henry defeated her opponent, 6-0, 7-6(2), taking the tough tiebreaker. Estefania Balda won at flight six, 8-1

Clemson moved to 20-1 all-time against the College of Charleston, and moved to 29-4 in season-opening matches all-time. The Tigers have a busy slate ahead, playing VCU on Sunday before playing host to Troy on Jan. 27 and the ITA Kick-Off weekend on Jan. 30-31.

Results:

#14 Clemson (1-0) def. #68 College of Charleston (0-1) – 7-0

January 23, 2010 – Clemson, SC

Doubles

1. Hadziselimovic/Wong (CU) def. #44 Dowse/Hayman (CofC) 8-1

2. Ciolkowski/Henry (CU) def. Casey/Mulligan (CofC) 8-1

3. Balda/Bek (CU) def. Newman/Viana (CofC) 8-2

Order of finish: 1,2,3

Singles

1. #9 Bek (CU) def. Dowse (CofC) 6-4, 6-1

2. Wong (CU) def. #114 Hayman (CofC) 6-2, 6-3

3. #113 Hadziselimovic (CU) def. #102 Casey (CofC) 6-0, 6-1