CARY, N.C. – Seniors Marie-Alexandre Leduc and Fernanda Navarro were victorious in both doubles and singles, but it was not enough for the Clemson women’s tennis team, which was edged by Virginia Tech by a score of 4-3 in the first round of the ACC Championships on Wednesday in Cary, N.C. With the loss, the Tigers conclude the team portion of the season at 10-15, while the Hokies are now 9-15 and advance to Thursday’s second round.
The Tigers’ Ally Miller-Krasilnikov and Sydney Riley won their No. 2 doubles match by a score of 6-4 to open doubles play. Then Leduc and Navarro clinched the doubles point in a tiebreak at No. 1, 7-6(4). With the win, the duo improved to 28-8 overall and 16-5 in dual matches for the 2018-19 season.
The Hokies won at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, before Navarro claimed a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory on Court 2 to knot the team score at 2-2. Virginia Tech earned its next point at No. 6, before Leduc, ranked 89th nationally, defeated the Hokies’ top singles player Natalie Novotna, ranked 88th nationally, in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-3. With the match tied at 3-3, Virginia Tech picked up the final point and the match with a win at No. 5 singles.
Leduc and Navarro, ranked ninth in the nation in doubles, and 89th and 110th, respectively, in singles, now await word on a bid to the 2019 NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships. The individual national tournament will be held on the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Fla. on May 20-25.
Photos by Sara D. Davis, the ACC:
