@ClemsonWTennis Upset Bid Falls Short Against No. 8 Cal

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The 13th-ranked Clemson women’s tennis team fell to No. 8 Cal, 4-2, in the Round of 16 of the ITA Team Indoor National Championships in Charlottesville, VA. The Tigers have lost their past two matches, each to top-ten opponents, to drop to 4-2 on the season while Cal improves to 3-0 with the win. The Tigers started the day strong claiming the doubles point in dramatic fashion. Jessy Rompies and Ani Miao got it going winning their match 6-3 over Lynn Chi and Karla Fabrikova. This was the first time that the duo of Rompies and Miao have played together this year. In a back and forth set, Cal won on Court 1 over Beatrice Gumulya and Yana Koroleva by a score of 7-6 which meant it all came down to court two. In a similarly entertaining effort, Tristen Dewar and Romy Koelzer upset #48 Denise Starr and Kelly Chui 7-6 to clinch the point for the Tigers. This too was the first time the duo of Dewar and Koelzer have been matched up this season. The early momentum from doubles play did not transfer over to the singles matches however as Cal stormed out to a 3-1 lead after back-to-back-to-back straight set victories.  In the third flight, 95th-ranked Lynn Chi defeated Koelzer, who is ranked 51st nationally, 6-2, 6-4. After a streak of five straight matches won, Koelzer has dropped the past two but is still 10-5 on the season. Karla Fabrikova beat Tristen Dewar on court five by a score of 6-2, 6-2 and 31st-ranked Meagan Manasse followed suit with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jessy Rompies on court six. The highlight of singles play came from the top flight. Yana Koroleva, ranked 74th in the nation, outlasted 26th-ranked Anett Schutting in a thrilling match. After Koroleva won the first set 6-2 and had a two-break lead in the second set, it seemed certain that she would cruise to victory. But Schutting battled back winning the set 7-6, forcing a tiebreaker third set. The tiebreaker was no less enthusing as Koroleva held on to win 10-7, earning the point for the Tigers. Koroleva is now 11-4 on the year and has won nine of her last 10 matches. The Golden Bears finished off the Tigers on Court 4 as 16th-ranked Zsofi Susanyi defeated Ani Miao 6-2, 6-4. The game victory gave Cal its fourth point of the match, ensuring the victory. Despite the loss, Clemson is still guaranteed two more matches against top-quality opponents. They will play Saturday and Sunday in the consolation draw, which will be finalized at the conclusion of play on Friday. No team in the field is ranked lower than 17th in the nation.  Tennis Match Results California vs Clemson Feb 07, 2014 at Charlottesville, VA (Boar’s Head Sports Club) #8 California 4, #13 Clemson 2 Singles competition 1. #74 Yana Koroleva (CU) def. #26 Anett Schutting (CAL) 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 10-7 2. #44 Beatrice Gumulya (CU) vs. #15 Denise Starr (CAL) 2-6, 6-6, unfinished 3. #95 Lynn Chi (CAL) def. Romy Koelzer (CU) 6-4, 6-2 4. #16 Zsofi Susanyi (CAL) def. Ani Miao (CU) 6-2, 6-4 5. Karla Fabrikova (CAL) def. #103 Tristen Dewar (CU) 6-2, 6-2 6. #31 Maegen Manasse (CAL) def. Jessy Rompies (CU) 6-2, 6-1 Doubles competition 1. Maegen Manasse/Anett Schutting (CAL) def. Beatrice Gumulya/Yana Koroleva (CU) 7-6 2. Tristen Dewar/Romy Koelzer (CU) def. #48 Denise Starr/Kelly Chui (CAL) 7-6 3. Jessy Rompies/Ani Miao (CU) def. Lynn Chi/Karla Fabrikova (CAL) 6-3 Match Notes: California 3-0; National ranking #8 Clemson 4-2; National ranking #13 Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,3,6,1,4) ITA Team Indoor Championship – 3rd Round