No. 9 Clemson Takes Down Wake Forest Sunday

March 28, 2010

CLEMSON, S.C. – The ninth-ranked Clemson women’s tennis team ran its winning streak to five with a 6-1 win over #62 Wake Forest on Sunday. Clemson (16-3, 4-1 ACC) swept the doubles point in dramatic fashion, and defeated Wake Forest for the ninth straight time overall.

Clemson will travel to Maryland for a match on Thursday with the Terrapins before taking on Boston College on Saturday in Chestnut Hill.

The win was Clemson’s 25th all-time over the Demon Deacons (7-8, 1-2 ACC), and continued a strong start for the Tigers, which has seen them post wins in 16 of their first 19 matches, including 11 against the top 75 teams nationally. The Tigers swept the weekend, defeating NC State, 7-0, on Saturday, which moves the Tigers to 4-1 in conference on the season.

For the second consecutive day, Ina Hadziselimovic found themselves behind by a significant margin at flight one doubles. Yesterday, they came back form a 5-2 deficit to beat the 42nd-ranked duo from NC State, 9-7. On Sunday, Bek and Hadziselimovic, ranked 17th nationally, turned an equally impressive feat. Facing a 7-3 deficit, the duo fought off Sasha Kulikova and Kathryn Talbert, winning six straight games for a 9-7 win and the clinch of the doubles point.

For Hadziselimovic, it was her 95th career doubles victory, pulling her to within five of the school record, as she is now tied for third all-time.

Etefania Balda and Keri Wong had already posted an 8-4 victory at flight three over Matina Pavelec and Katarina Raveche.

Caroline Magnusson and Nelly Ciolkowski won their match, 9-8 (8-6) in a tiebreak set over Emilee Malvehy and Aileen Davis at flight two. The duo from Wake turned a 7-6 deficit into an 8-7 lead, but Magnusson and Ciolkowski, both freshmen, showed perseverance in rattling off the next two games for the win.

Keri Wong put the next point on the board for the Tigers, taking down Kulikova, 6-4, 6-2 at flight two.

Hadziselimovic then won her fifth straight match, moving to 14-5 in the Spring season. She posted a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win over Kathryn Talbert at flight three.

Nelly Ciolkowski, ranked 73rd nationally, ran her impressive freshman singles mark to 23-4, as she defeated Emilee Malvehy, 7-5, 6-3 at flight four.

Josipa Bek won the first set in her match, 7-5, against #68 Martina Pavelec. The two went to a tiebreak set after Pavelec broke Bek to go up 6-5, and Bek broke back to force. Pavelec won the tiebreak, 7-5. With the match decided, the two played a super tiebreak, which Bek took, 10-5 for the win and a 5-0 lead.

Wake’s Ryann Cutillo got the Deacs on the board as she defeated Estefania Balda, 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (10-7) in a super tiebreak set. The loss snapped Balda’s five-match win streak.

Caroline Magnusson posted a 6-1, 6-3 win at flight six over Katarina Raveche to close out the match.

Clemson returns to action on Thursday on the road with a 2:30 pm showdown with Maryland.

#9 Clemson 6, #62 Wake Forest 1

March 28, 2010 – Clemson, SC

Doubles:

1. #17 Bek/Hadziselimovic (CU) def. Kulikova/Talbert (WF), 9-7

2. Ciolkowski/Magnusson (CU) def. Malvehy/Davis (WF), 9-8(6)

3. Balda/Wong (CU) def. Pavelec/Reveche (WF), 8-4

Order of Finish: 3,1,2

Singles:

1. #22 Josipa Bek (CU) def. #68 Martina Pavelec (WF), 7-5, 6-7(5), 1-0(10-5)

2. #59 Keri Wong (CU) def. Sasha Kulikova (WF), 6-4, 6-2