Jan. 30, 2015
The #18 Georgia Tech women’s tennis team continues its home stand, welcoming #59 USF on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Parking Notice
Due to a home men’s basketball game on Saturday, fans can pay to park at the W23 lot, Klaus Parking Deck or the upper level of the Peters Parking Deck. At 2 p.m., parking will open back up for free for patrons. Visit Georgia Tech parking for a map of the lots.
ITA Kickoff Weekend Recap
The Yellow Jackets fell just short of making the trip to the ITA National Indoors after defeating #38 Columbia, 4-1, and falling to #19 Oklahoma State, 4-3, during the ITA Kickoff Weekend last week. The Yellow Jackets were strong in doubles in both matches, clinching the doubles point against both teams. On court two, freshman Paige Hourigan and junior Kendal Woodard went 2-0 during the kickoff weekend. Junior Natasha Proknevska and freshman Johnnise Renaud also went 2-0 on court three against Columbia and Oklahoma State. Sophomore Rasheeda McAdoo and freshman Alexis Prokopuik played on court one and were up in both matches before the doubles point was clinched.
In their first victory of the season against Columbia, the Yellow Jackets collected three singles victories. Woodard and Renaud defeated their opponents in straight-sets while McAdoo secured Tech’s 4-1 victory with a 7-5, 6-3 win on court three.
Against the Cowgirls, #121 Hourigan defeated Kelsey Laurente in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, to score a point for the Jackets on court two. Prokopuik also won her singles match, cruising to a 6-0, 6-2 victory at the number five position.
Welcome Back to the Flats
There will be a familiar face on USF’s coaching staff this weekend – assistant coach Kelly Anderson was a four year letter winner at Georgia Tech rom 2003-06. Anderson was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003, becoming the first-ever GT women’s tennis player to receive that accolade. She was a member of the All-ACC team in 2004. In 2003, Anderson ended the year ranked 28th in doubles and in 2006, completed the season 35th in singles. The Yellow Jackets won the ACC Tournament in both 2005 and 2006 while finishing the ’06 season ranked sixth nationally.
Academically, Anderson was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District III Team and an ITA Scholar-Athlete during her sophomore and junior seasons. She was also named to the All-ACC Academic Team all four years.
Winning the Doubles Point
The Yellow Jackets have won the doubles point in two-straight matches and are 1-1 when winning the doubles point. Tech won the doubles point against #38 Columbia on the way to a 4-1 win and won the doubles point against #19 Oklahoma State, but dropped the match, 4-3.
Jackets in the Rankings
The Yellow Jackets have stayed at #18 in the first three ITA polls of the season. The Jackets have three singles players and one doubles duo that are also ranked in the season’s first individual.
Freshman Johnnise Renaud is the #63 ranked singles player after recording a team-best eight singles wins this fall. Ranked at #81 is junior Natasha Prokhnevska who went 5-2 during the tournament season. Freshman Paige Hourigan is ranked at #121 after recording a 7-3 singles record in the fall.
The doubles tandem of sophomore Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer and freshman Alexis Prokopuik check in at #28 on the doubles ranking after going 6-2 during the fall. The duo won three-straight matches at the end of the season.
Strong Nonconference Schedule
The Yellow Jackets play a strong nonconference schedule with six of their seven nonconference opponents ranked in the top 40 of this week’s ITA national team rankings. All seven of their nonconference opponents are ranked in the top 60 of the national rankings. Tech picked up a nonconference win against #38 Columbia during the ITA Kickoff Weekend.
Georgia Tech is one of seven ACC schools that are ranked in the top-20 in the rankings, joining North Carolina (3), Duke (4), Virginia (10), Miami (12), Clemson (13), Georgia Tech (18) and Notre Dame (19).
Follow the Jackets
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Next Up
After a week break, Georgia Tech hosts Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 14 and welcomes Tennessee on Sunday, Feb. 15. Both matches will begin at noon at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
–TogetherWeSwarm–
