Tiger Women’s Tennis Team Ranked Fifth In Final ITA Poll

June 8, 2004

The Tiger women’s tennis team is ranked fifth according to the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll released on June 4. It is the highest final national ranking for a women’s tennis team in Clemson history and the first time since the April 15, 1986 poll that the team has been ranked in the top-five nationally.

The Tigers finished the season with a 26-4 overall record after reaching the NCAA Final Four and becoming the first women’s team in Clemson history to advance to a national semifinal tournament. The Tigers became only the second ACC team in conference history to advance to the quarterfinals or semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, as Duke is the only other team to make the Final Four, having done so six times. The 2004 team is one of only four teams in Tiger history to finish the season with more than 25 wins, as Clemson teams accomplished that feat in 1981 (27-7), 1983 (30-5) and 1986 (26-3).

Clemson claimed the ACC Tournament crown in 2004, earning the seventh conference tournament title in history for the Tigers and the first since the 1987 season. The team also finished at the top of the regular season conference standings this season, for the eighth time overall and the first time since 1986, after completing regular season play with a perfect 8-0 record in the league.

The Tigers’ Julie Coin is ranked eighth nationally according to the final ITA singles poll. The junior from Amiens, France was named an All-American for the 2004 season after advancing to the NCAA Singles Final Four. She finished the season with a 32-9 overall record, recording the most victories for a Tiger women’s tennis player in a season since Ingelise Driehuis finished the 1987 season with 42 singles wins. Coin was named the 2004 ACC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year after compiling a 7-1 record in conference play at the flight one singles position.

Daniela Alvarez ends the season ranked 74th by the ITA in singles. The sophomore from Santa Cruz, Bolivia finished the season with a 25-9 overall record, an 18-6 mark in dual matches and a 6-2 conference record. Alvarez was named to the All-ACC team for the 2004 season, earning all-conference honors for the second consecutive season.

Freshman Maria Brito is ranked 100th according to the final ITA singles poll. The Mexico City, Mexico native was also named to the all-conference team in 2004, and finished the season with a 31-9 overall record in singles, posting a 22-6 dual match record and a 6-2 ACC mark. Brito ended the season on an eight-match winning streak in singles.

In the ITA doubles poll, Brito and Coin finished the season ranked 17th after advancing to the Round of 16 at the 2004 NCAA Doubles Tournament. The pair was only the third doubles team in Clemson history to advance to the Round of 16 in the national doubles tournament. They completed the season with a 25-6 overall record in doubles play. The Tigers’ pair of Alvarez and senior Alix Lacelarie (Villeneuve-Les-Beziers, France) is ranked 43rd in the ITA’s final doubles poll, while Alvarez and Brito are ranked 48th.