CARY, N.C. – Leigh Van Zyl fought her way out of a 4-1 deficit in the third set to defeat Mahak Jain, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, and seal Clemson Women’s Tennis’s 4-3 victory over fifth-seeded and 22nd-ranked Georgia Tech in the Second Round of the ACC Championship. The 12th-seeded Tigers (13-12) snapped a nine-match skid against the Yellow Jackets (13-9) and earned their first win over a top-five seed in the ACC Tournament since 2008.
VAN ZYL COMES IN CLUTCH 🤩Leigh sends us to the quarterfinals!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Quxq2QrUUL— Clemson Women's Tennis (@ClemsonWTennis) April 18, 2024
VAN ZYL COMES IN CLUTCH 🤩
Leigh sends us to the quarterfinals!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Quxq2QrUUL
— Clemson Women's Tennis (@ClemsonWTennis) April 18, 2024
Clemson avenged a 4-0 defeat to Georgia Tech just 13 days ago in Atlanta and will make an appearance in the ACC Quarterfinal for the first time since 2017. Clemson will play fourth-seeded and 13th-ranked N.C. State at 3:30 p.m. on Friday in the Quarterfinal, held at Cary Tennis Park. Tickets, live stats, and the live stream for tomorrow’s match can be found on the ACC Championship Page.
Clinch the win = placing the sticker 🫶This marks the the First win over a top 5 seed at the ACC Tournament since 2008 for the Tigers! pic.twitter.com/AOGzGwUgQK— Clemson Women's Tennis (@ClemsonWTennis) April 18, 2024
Clinch the win = placing the sticker 🫶
This marks the the First win over a top 5 seed at the ACC Tournament since 2008 for the Tigers! pic.twitter.com/AOGzGwUgQK
“What an inspiring win today from our team,” Head Coach Boomer Saia said. “It was almost the exact same situation as yesterday, and we had two different people clinch and come out on top during both matches. It was really inspiring. After losing in doubles, we got gritty and dug deep.”
Saia continued, saying, “It was inspiring to see as a coach, and especially for our staff, as we preach about getting gritty for one another and playing for each other. We have battled various injuries this season, and it is truly inspiring to see us come together at the end of the season. We look forward to recovering and getting back out there tomorrow against N.C. State.”
In his first season guiding the Tigers, Head Coach Boomer Saia’s club has won multiple matches in an ACC Tournament for the first time since 2008 and for just the eighth time ever.
The Tigers claimed four singles victories after dropping the doubles point, with Cristina Mayorova, Daniella Medvedeva, and Sophia Hatton each earning straight-set victories on courts two, three, and four, respectively.
Hatton earned her fifth consecutive singles decision, and she’s 16-4 in her past 20 dual-match appearances. Medvedeva continued her gutsy play with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over Alejandra Cruz on court three. Mayorova picked up a clutch 6-3, 7-5 win on court two, where she had dropped seven straight. That shifted the focus to Van Zyl on court six.
DANI DOES IT AGAIN 🤯Medvedeva secures back-to-back singles victories in Cary‼️ pic.twitter.com/6fMBRWyeam— Clemson Women's Tennis (@ClemsonWTennis) April 18, 2024
DANI DOES IT AGAIN 🤯
Medvedeva secures back-to-back singles victories in Cary‼️ pic.twitter.com/6fMBRWyeam
She claimed the first set 6-4 against Jain, a senior. Jain fought back with a 6-4 win of her own, setting up a third set. Jain appeared to have the match in hand for the Yellow Jacket, jumping out to leads of 3-0 and 4-1. But Van Zyl went on the offensive, winning the next four games to take a 5-4 lead. She had three match points, but Jain was able to battle back and tie the set. However, Van Zyl broke again and served for the match, winning 7-5.
Van Zyl won her 19th singles match of the season, snapping a three-match skid and bouncing back from a straight-set loss on Wednesday.
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Clemson 4, Georgia Tech 3
Doubles:
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6
