April 1, 2004
ATLANTA – Clemson’s Julie Coin came back to earn a three-set victory and clinch the match as Clemson (16-3, 5-0 ACC) earned a 4-3 victory over Georgia Tech (11-6, 4-1) Thursday at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
Coin, ranked the No. 9 singles player in the nation, dropped her first set to No. 43 Lyndsay Shosho, 4-6, but came back to take the match with 6-2, 6-1 sets.
“It was a tough match,” said Tech head coach Bryan Shelton, “a tough match to lose. This was a team that we really wanted to beat, and although we played a good match, they just outplayed us today.”
The Jackets dropped all three doubles matches on the afternoon to fall behind 1-0 in match play. Clemson then jumped ahead 2-0 when Alix Lacelarie earned a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Tech’s Lindsey Stauss in the No. 4 singles slot.
“We need to get tougher in doubles,” said Shelton. “Usually, whoever ends up winning the doubles point will take the match, and that’s what happened today. It hurt us because it put us in a hole.”
Georgia Tech got on the board after Sekita Grant came back from dropping her first set in the No. 5 position to the Tigers’ Karen Rombouts, 2-6, and won the next two sets 6-1, 6-2. Maria Nieto tied the match at 2-2 with a straight-set victory over Richele Lesaldo at No. 6, 6-3, 6-0.
Clemson’s Maria Brito battled the Jackets’ Alison Silverio at No. 3 and gave the Tigers a 3-2 edge in the match with a 6-4, 7-5 victory before Tech tied the match again at 3-3 behind the play of No. 82 Kelly Anderson in the No. 2 slot, who defeated No. 63 Daniela Alvarez, 6-2, 7-6.
The Jackets will return to action when they travel to Florida State to take on the Seminoles Saturday at 11 a.m.
No. 21 Clemson 4, No. 43 Georgia Tech 3
Doubles (Clemson wins the point) 1. Alvarez/Brito (CU) def. Anderson/Grant (GT), 9-6 2. Coin/Lacelarie (CU) def. Shosho/Nieto (GT), 9-8 (0) 3. Rombouts/Lesaldo (CU) def. Silverio/Kacie Anson (GT), 8-6 *
Singles 1. No. 9 Julie Coin (CU) def. No. 43 Lyndsay Shosho (GT), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 ** 2. No. 82 Kelly Anderson (GT) def. No. 63 Daniela Alvarez (CU), 6-2, 7-6 3. Maria Brito (CU) def. Alison Silverio (GT), 6-4, 7-5 4. Alix Lacelarie (CU) def. Lindsey Stauss (GT), 7-5, 6-0 5. Sekita Grant (GT) def. Karen Rombouts (CU), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 6. Maria Nieto (GT) def. Richele Lesaldo (CU), 6-3, 6-0
*Clinched Doubles Point **Deciding Match Point
