No. 14 Texas Edges No. 15 Clemson, 4-3

Feb. 12, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – No. 15 Clemson forced three singles matches to third sets, but came away just short, 4-3, against No. 14 Texas in the consolation round of the ITA Team National Indoor Championships. Clemson (7-2) claimed the doubles point, but was unable to turn the tide in another as Texas claimed the victory at the Boar’s Head Indoor Tennis Center in Charlottesville, VA.

Clemson claimed the doubles point, but fell in the match for the first time in 21 tries. Keri Wongand Nelly Ciolkowski were Clemson’s lone singles winners at flights two and four.

Clemson found a great matchup in 14th-ranked Texas on Sunday, as the tight doubles were an indication of how the rest of the match would go.

Clemson claimed the doubles point, again registering wins at flights one and three as they did on Saturday. Texas took the first decision at two, 8-3 over Romy Kölzer and Nelly Ciolkowski.

Keri Wong and Beatrice Gumulya put Clemson on the board at flight one a day after knocking off the 4th-ranked duo in the nation by an 8-2 count over Texas’ top team of Lina Padegimaite and Noel Scott. Klara Vyskocilova and Monika Kochanovathen improved to 13-2 on the year with their 8-6 win at flight three to give Clemson the 1-0 lead heading into singles play.

Texas turned the table in doubles, claiming five first sets overall, and taking straight-set wins at flights six and five. Gumulya then fell at flight one to 47th-ranked Aeriel Ellis, 7-6, 6-4, to give Texas the 3-1 lead while Wong, Vyskocilova, and Ciolkowski each battled back to send their matchups to a third set.

Wong took out the 119th-ranked Scott at flight two, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to pull Clemson within one at 3-2, improving to 11-0 in 2012, and 8-0 in dual matches.

Krista Damico took the upper hand against Vyskocilova in her match, running out to a 5-1 advantage, while Ciolkowski was grinding at flight four against Cierra Gaytan-Leach. After winning the first set, Leach took the second, and Ciolkowski held a 5-4 lead in the third when Damico closed out against Vyskocilova to clinch the match, 4-2.

Clemson will have ten days off from competition before returning on Feb. 22 at South Carolina. The Tigers won’t play a home match until March 10 when they take on Florida State.

No. 14 Texas def. No. 15 Clemson, 4-3ITA Team National Indoors – Consolation – Charlottesville, VA – Feb. 12, 2012

Doubles: 1. Gumulya/Wong (CU) def. Padegimaite/Scott (TX), 8-2 2. Ellis/Gaytan-Leach (TX) def. Koelzer/Ciolkowski (CU), 8-3 3. Vyskocilova/Kochanova (CU) def. Damico/Begley, 8-6Order of Finish: 1,2,3*

Singles: 1. #47 Aeriel Ellis (TX) def. Beatrice Gumulya (CU), 7-6, 6-4 2. #65 Keri Wong (CU) def. #119 Noel Scott (TX), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 3. Krista Damico (TX) def. #58 Klara Vyskocilova (CU). 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 4. #67 Nelly Ciolkowski (CU) def. Cierra Gaytan-Leach (TX), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 5. Lina Padegemaite (TX) def. Romy Koelzer (CU), 7-5, 6-4 6. Elizabeth Begley (TX) def. Monika Kochanova (CU), 6-1, 6-0Order of Finish: 6,5,1,2,4,3*