Tigers Complete Come-From-Behind Win Over Southern California in ITA Kick-Off

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Clemson women’s tennis team completed the program’s first-ever win over Southern California on Friday, coming from behind to defeat the Trojans 4-2 as part of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. With the win, Clemson remains perfect on the year, moving to 3-0 as a team.

The Trojans jumped out to an early lead, taking the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles, but the Tigers fought back in singles. Junior Fernanda Navarro won Clemson’s first singles match of the day, overpowering Angela Kulikov, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 4 singles. Senior captain Daniela Ruizearned Clemson’s next point, defeating Alex Corcoleotes 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. Southern Cal’s Becca Weissmann topped sophomore Sydney Riley at No. 2 singles to tie the overall score at 2-2.

Though junior Marie-Alexandre Leduc (No. 1 singles) and sophomores Tate Schroeder (No. 3 singles) and Constanza Gorches (No. 5 singles) all dropped their first singles sets, all three forced and won tiebreaks in their second sets. Schroeder came out victorious in her third set first, topping Madison Westby, the nation’s 85th-ranked singles player, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to give Clemson a 3-2 overall lead. Leduc, the nation’s 20th-ranked singles player, then clinched the win for the Tigers, besting the nation’s 35th-ranked singles player, Gabby Smith, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. While Gorches did not finish, she did fight off five separate match points to keep Clemson alive.

The Tigers will face the winner of today’s afternoon match between the No. 25 South Carolina Gamecocks and the Oklahoma Sooners tomorrow at 2 p.m.

RESULTS

Clemson 4, Southern Cal 2

SINGLES

1 #20 Marie-Alexandre Leduc (CU) def. #35 Gabby Smith (USC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3

2 Becca Weissmann (USC) def. Sydney Riley (CU) 6-1, 6-0

3 Tate Schroeder (CU) def. #85 Madison Westby (USC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1

4 Fernanda Navarro (CU) def. Angela Kulikov (USC) 6-1, 6-0

5 Constance Branstine (USC) vs. Constanza Gorches (CU) 7-5, 6-7 (8-10) 4-1 DNF

6 Daniela Ruiz (CU) def. Alexa Corcoleotes (USC) 6-3, 6-1

Order of finish: 4, 6, 2, 3, 1

DOUBLES