Clemson Stuns Top-Seed Georgia Tech in Semifinal Action of ACC Women’s Tennis Championship

April 19, 2008

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FLA. – Number-one ranked Ani Mijacika won a crucial match at the top position and clinched Clemson’s stunning 4-1 upset of #1-seeded Georgia Tech in the semifinals of the 2008 ACC Women’s Tennis Championships on Saturday at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, FL.

The Tigers extended their winning streak to nine straight and will now face #2 seed Duke for the league crown on Sunday at 11:00 am. The Blue Devils defeated sixth-seeded Florida State 4-2 in the other semifinal match on Saturday.

Clemson (14-9) will be seeking its first conference championship since 2004 and eighth all-time, while Duke (18-3) hopes to collect a league-best 16th crown and first since 2003. The two teams have met a total of seven times in the ACC Tournament, five in the finals with Duke holding a 3-2 edge.

Sunday’s finals appearance will be the second for the Tigers under Head Coach Nancy Harris, joining the 2004 title run. That year, Clemson defeated the Blue Devils, 4-2, for the championship.

The Tigers earned the doubles point with a pair of hard-fought victories from their 10th-ranked tandem of Mijacika and Carol Salge at the top spot (8-5) and Ina Hadziselimovic and Alexandra Luc on the third court (8-6).

Georgia Tech tied the match as #4 Amanda McDowell posted a 6-0, 6-1 win against Estefania Balda at No. 2 singles.

However, Clemson would claim the next two singles victories to end the match and snap Georgia Tech’s eight-match winning streak. Laurianne Henry defeated Maya Johansson at no. 6 (6-3, 6-2) and Hadziselimovic recorded a 7-5, 6-3 win against Noelle Hickey at the fourth position.

Mijacika the clinched the match for the Tigers with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 triumph over the Yellow Jackets’ Kristi Miller at the No. 1 position.

Coverage of the ACC Women’s Tennis Championship will be made available On-Demand every night (April 18-20) by 9 p.m. on ACC Select (www.ACCSelect.com).

#25 Clemson 4, #2 Georgia Tech 1 Doubles 1. #10 Mijacika/Salge (CU) def. Miller/Krupina (GT), 8-5 2. Balda/Van Adrichem (CU) vs. Hickey/McCray (GT), dnf 3. Hadziselimovic/Alexandra Luc (CU) def. Striplin/Flower (GT), 8-6 Order of Finish: 1, 3

Singles 1. #1 Ani Mijacika (CU) def. #5 Kristi Miller (GT), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 2. #4 Amanda McDowell (GT) def. Estefania Balda (GT), 6-0, 6-1 3. Carol Salge (CU) vs. #39 Whitney McCray (GT), dnf 4. Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) def. #124 Noelle Hickey (GT), 7-5, 6-3 5. Federica van Adrichem (CU) vs. #74 Christy Striplin (GT), dnf 6. Laurianne Henry (CU) def. #34 Maya Johansson (GT), 6-3, 6-2 Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4, *1