Clemson Women’s Tennis Edges Virginia Commonwealth On Sunday

Jan. 25, 2009

RICHMOND, VA – Clemson’s 11th-ranked women’s tennis team earned a 4-3 victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday afternoon at the Thailhimer Tennis Center in Richmond, VA. The Tigers swept the doubles matches for the second time this season while Ani Mijacika, Josipa Bek and Keri Wong picked up singles wins.

Wong partnered with Ina Hadziselimovic at the flight two doubles position where the Clemson duo defeated Kateryna Yergina and Laura Burns, 8-4, to improve to 8-1 for the fall and spring seasons combined. Bek and Mijacika then posted an 8-6 victory over Alex Bara and Ana Bara at the top spot, while Alexandra Luc and Estefania Balda downed the Ram team of Olena Leonchuck and Mihaela Bunea at flight three by an 8-5 margin.

Bek won easily over Alex Bara at the second singles spot, downing the VCU player in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Mijacika also recorded a two-set victory at flight one. The nation’s fourth-ranked player won the first set over Ana Bara, 6-3, and then eked out the second set in a tie-break.

Wong improved to 9-3 overall with a win at the fourth flight. The Tiger player defeated Leonchuk, 6-2, in the first set before falling in the second, 6-4. Wong then recorded the 6-1 decision in the third set for the victory.

VCU’s Yergina defeated Balda at flight three in another three-set battle as the Ram player claimed the second and third sets for the win (4-6, 6-1, 6-4). Clemson’s Hadziselimovic fell to Burns at the fifth position, 6-3, 6-1, while Luc suffered the loss to Bunea at flight six (6-3, 2-6, 10-8).

Clemson, now 2-0 on the year, will return to the court next weekend as the Tigers play host to the first and second rounds of the ITA Intercollegiate National Team Indoor Championships. Clemson will face Boise State in the opening round at 9:00 am on Saturday, Jan. 31.

#11 CLEMSON 4, VCU 3 Doubles <1. Ani Mijacika/Josipa Bek (CU) d. Alex Bara/Ana Bara, 8-6 2. Keri Wong/Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) d. Kateryna Yergina/Laura Burns, 8-4 3. Alexandra Luc/Estefania Balda (CU) d. Olena Leonchuk/Mihaela Bunea, 8-5 Singles 1. Mijacika (CU) d. Ana Bara 6-3, 7-6 (4) 2. Bek (CU) d. Alex Bara, 6-2, 6-3 3. Yergina (VCU) d. Balda, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 4. Wong (CU) d. Leonchuk, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 5. Burns (VCU) d. Hadziselmovic, 6-3, 6-1 6. Bunea (VCU) d. Luc, 6-3, 2-6, 10-8