Keri Wong Falls in NCAA Singles Tournament

May 23, 2012

ATHENS, GA – Clemson graduate Keri Wong fell in her final collegiate match to the nation’s 19th-ranked player, Danielle Lao of Southern California, by a 6-3, 6-1 count on Wednesday afternoon on the Henry Feild Courts in Athens, GA. The match came in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championships, held by the University of Georgia.

The Jackson, MS native finished her career with 102 singles wins and 117 doubles wins, the third-most total wins in school history. She also ends her career as one of three Clemson players ever to record more than 100 singles and doubles victories. Wong is a two-time doubles All-American, and was named All-ACC three times in her career, including this season.

She fell to 0-2 in her career in the NCAA Singles Championships, as the Trojan junior took four out of five games in a crucial stretch in the middle of the first set, and took a 5-0 lead in the second before Wong was able to break. Wong held just twice in eight service games in today’s loss. It was Lao’s second career win against Wong, as they met in 2009 in Pacific Palisades, CA. Lao is now 31-7 on the season, and advances to play the No. 1 overall seed, Allie Will of Florida tomorrow.

Wong closed her senior season at 24-12 in singles play this season, which did include a 9-2 mark in the ACC and eight wins against nationally-ranked players. The Tigers went 16-10 this season and reached the NCAA’s Second Round for the 11th straight season, before dropping a 4-3 decision at the hands of No. 6 Georgia on May 12 in Athens, GA.

Results: May 23, 2012 – NCAA First Round – Athens, GA – Feild Court 4 • No. 19 Danielle Lao (USC) def. No. 46 Keri Wong (CU), 6-3, 6-1 Time of match: 1:20