Tigers Jump To #13 In Fila/ITA Tennis Poll

April 22, 2008

CLEMSON, SC – Following their run to the title in last weekend’s ACC Championships, the Tigers jumped 12 places to #13 in Tuesday’s Fila/ITA Tennis poll. Clemson extended its winning streak to 10 straight to improve to 15-9 on the year and secured its seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance after earning the conference’s automatic bid. Five Tigers were also listed in the individual polls.

Sophomore Ani Mijacika is ranked second in the singles poll with a 27-6 record in 2007-08. She has posted 15 wins against ranked opponents, including a defeat of Georgia Tech’s #4 Kristi Miller in the ACC semifinals. The Makarska, Croatia native has been ranked in the top five in every poll this spring and as the #1 player in twice.

Mijacika has teamed with Carol Salge to win 10 straight doubles matches for a 14-2 record this spring. The Tiger tandem defeated two top-10 teams in the conference tournament last weekend and is now listed fourth in the rankings.

Salge, who was named the tournament MVP, moved up to #58 in the singles poll. The senior from San Roque, Brazil is riding an 11-match winning streak for a 15-10 overall record.

Estefania Balda was ranked at #113, while freshman Laurianne Henry made her rankings debut at #114. The native of nearby Anderson, SC has won seven straight singles matches, including all three in the ACC Tournament, since recovering from an injury and reentering the Clemson line-up on Apr. 5.

The Tiger doubles team of Mijacika and Federica van Adrichem was also listed at #30. The duo compiled a 7-3 record during the fall but has not played a match during the dual season.

Clemson will be on a nearly three-week hiatus before NCAA play begins on May 9. The field will be announced on Tuesday, Apr. 29.