No. 3 Clemson Defeats Virginia Tech in Season Opener

Jan. 29, 2005

BLACKSBURG, Va. — The Hokies proved to be no match for the third-ranked Clemson Tigers dropping the event, 6-1, at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center in Blacksburg, VA. The Tigers are now 1-0 for the season and in ACC play, while Virginia Tech drops to 0-1 overall and in the conference.

Clemson won all three doubles contests to take the first point of the dual match. At the No. 1 position, Clemson’s Daniela Alvarez/Romy Farah had no trouble with Felice Lam/J.J. Larson winning 8-1. The Hokies’ Anat Elazari and Ashley James fell 8-2 at No. 2 versus Maria Brito and Carol Salge while Julie Coin and Richele LeSaldo defeated Kate Harrington and Bethan James in the No. 3 match, 8-4.

Unfortunately for the Hokies, the singles competition was more of the same. Salge took the first decision with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Harrington in the No. 6 contest, her first match in a Tiger uniform. Senior Alix Lacelarie won her match at No. 5 over Virginia Tech’s James, 6-0, 6-2.

Fifth-ranked Julie Coin, the 2004 ACC Player-of-the-Year, picked up where she left off last season with a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Elazari. The Tigers gained their final two points as Brito, ranked No. 114, defeated Long, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4 and Farah, ranked No. 88, won 6-2, 6-3 over Tech’s A. James in the No. 3 contest.

The Tigers only defeat came in the final contest of the day as #97 Daniela Alvarez fell to Virginia Tech’s Larson, 6-0, 7-5.

Clemson will return to the court on Thursday, Feb. 3 in the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Madison, WI. The University of Wisconsin hosts the four-day event, the premiere collegiate indoor tournament.

#3 Clemson 6, Virginia Tech 1 Singles 1. #5 Julie Coin (CU) d. #83 Anat Elazari (VT) 6-1, 6-0 2. J.J. Larson (VT) d. #97 Daniela Alvarez (CU) 6-0, 7-5 3. #88 Romy Farah (CU) d. Ashley James (VT) 6-2, 6-3 4. #114 Maria Brito (CU) d. Jessica Long (VT) 6-1, 6-3 5. Alix Lacelarie (CU) d. Bethan James (VT) 6-0, 6-2 6. Salge (CU) d. Kate Harrington (VT) 6-0, 6-0

Finishing Order: 6,5,1*, 4, 3, 2, Doubles 1. Alvarez/Farah (CU) d. #43 Lam/Larson (VT) 8-1 2. Brito/Salge (CU) d. Elazari/A.James (VT) 8-2 3. Coin/LeSaldo (CU) d. Harrington/B.James (VT) 8-4

Finishing Order: 1, 2, 3 *Clinching point