Four Women’s Tennis Players Ranked In ITA Preseason Poll

Sept. 13, 2007

CLEMSON, SC – Four Clemson women’s tennis players were ranked in the ITA Tennis preseason singles poll, while two Tiger teams earned listings in the doubles rankings. Ani Mijacika and Federica van Adrichem were ranked #2 in the doubles poll after a stellar 2007 spring season, and both were also listed in singles along with Estefania Balda and Carol Salge.

Mijacika, a sophomore from Makarsa, Croatia, and Van Adrichem, a junior native of Amersfoort, Netherlands, reached the semifinals of the 2007 NCAA Doubles Championships, setting a new standard for a Clemson team. The duo earned All-American honors and was ranked fourth in the final poll last season, which was the highest final national ranking in program history. Mijacika and Van Adrichem compiled an 18-5 overall record last season with an impressive 8-3 ledger against ranked opponents.

Mijacika was also the highest listed Clemson singles player at #21. Along with her All-American status, she was named the ACC Freshman-of-the-Year and the ITA Southeast Region Rookie Player-of-the-Year. Mijacika posted a perfect 11-0 record in conference action while tallying a 25-7 overall mark for 2006-07. She was listed 33rd in the final poll last season.

Fellow sophomore Balda was ranked 58th in the preseason singles poll after recording a 16-8 ledger last spring. The Guayaquil, Ecuador native jumped nearly 30 spots from her #87 final ranking last season. Senior Carol Salge earned the #65 listing while Van Adrichem was ranked at #96.

Salge owns a career 68-37 record in her three years as a Tiger and was named to the 2006 All-ACC team. Van Adrichem boasted a 17-6 ledger last spring with an 8-3 mark against ACC opponents.

Balda and Salge were also ranked as a doubles team at #32. The pair played just six matches together last year with a 3-3 record.

The Tigers’ first event of the 2007 fall season will be this weekend, as selected players will participate in the MCC Collegiate Clay Courts tournament in Montgomery, AL. The majority of the team will then be in action at the Furman Fall Classic over to be held Sept. 28-30.