No. 14 Clemson Takes Down Virginia Tech

CLEMSON, SC – The 14th-ranked Clemson women’s tennis team defeated Virginia Tech (13-8, 2-6 ACC), 5-2, on Saturday at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. The win was the seventh in the last eight matches overall for the Tigers (11-6, 6-2 ACC), who will play first-place and 17th-ranked Virginia (14-7, 7-1 ACC) on Sunday at noon at Hoke Sloan.  Clemson won the doubles point and the top four singles matches en route to their ninth straight win over the Hokies in the all-time series, which Clemson leads, 15-3. The Tigers also guaranteed themselves a winning record in conference play for the 12th straight season. Sunday’s match between the Tigers and Cavaliers could determine which squad gets a bye in the first round of the ACC Tournament, which takes place from April 25-28 in Cary, NC.  The Tigers jumped out to 5-2 leads on courts two and three, while falling behind, 5-2 on court one in doubles. Liz Jeukeng and Romy Koelzer maintained their pressure, winning 8-2. TRisten Dewar and Ani Miao then won a few minutes later by an 8-4 count to clinch the point. On court one, Beatrice Gumulya and Yana Koroleva trailed Ilinca Stoica and Kelly Williford, 7-4. However the Tigers sophomores roared back to tie the match at 7-7, and fought off a match point in the tiebreaker to win, 8-7 (8).  In singles, Clemson’s top three went to work, as each boast top-33 national rankings. After Tristen Dewar fell to Williford, 6-3, 6-4 on court five, No. 24 Liz Jeukeng quickly evened up the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win on court two over Raluca Mita. The Tiger freshman won her seventh in a row, and  improved to 15-3 on the season and 8-0 in ACC play.  No. 33 Beatrice Gumulya, who has now won four in a row, improved to 19-4 this season and 6-1 in ACC play with her 6-4, 6-2 win over Isel Martinez-Marcos on court three.  Freshman Ani Miao also earned a victory, a 6-0, 6-4 decision against Carol Kahoun in her first match at flight four. Miao improved to 5-2 in ACC play and 13-8 overall.  Koroleva, ranked 17th in the country, earned a straight-set win against Ilinca Stoica as she is now 18-7 overall and 11-4 at the No. 1 position for the Tigers.  Carola Pederzani and Tea Ivanovic played three sets that ended in tiebreakers, with Ivanovic outlasting the Tiger freshman, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 1-0 (10-7), to set the final margin.  Clemson has just two matches left after Sunday, both of which will be on the road. Clemson takes on NC State and Wake Forest on the road before heading to the ACC Tournament.  Tennis Match Results Virginia Tech vs Clemson Apr 13, 2013 at Clemson, SC (Hoke Sloan Tennis Center) #14 Clemson 5, Virginia Tech 2 Singles competition 1. #17 Yana Koroleva (CU) def. Ilinca Stoica (VT) 6-3, 7-5 2. #24 Liz Jeukeng (CU) def. Raluca Mita (VT) 6-2, 6-3 3. #33 Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Isel Martinez-Marcos (VT) 6-4, 6-2 4. Ani Miao (CU) def. Carol Kahoun (VT) 6-0, 6-4 5. Kelly Williford (VT) def. Tristen Dewar (CU) 6-3, 6-4 6. Tea Ivanovic (VT) def. Carola Pederzani (CU) 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-7) Doubles competition 1. Beatrice Gumulya/Yana Koroleva (CU) def. Ilinca Stoica/Kelly Williford (VT) 8-7 (10-8) 2. Liz Jeukeng/Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Raluca Mita/Carol Kahoun (VT) 8-2 3. Tristen Dewar/Ani Miao (CU) def. Isel Martinez-Marcos/Emily Lauten (VT) 8-4 Match Notes: Virginia Tech 13-8, 2-6 ACC Clemson 11-6, 6-2 ACC; National ranking #14 Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,2,3,4,1,6)