May 22, 2007
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Athens, Ga.–Kristi Miller, Amanda McDowell and Christy Striplin won singles matches and then senior Alison Silverio provided the clinching victory at No. 2 singles to give Georgia Tech a 4-2 victory over UCLA in the NCAA championship match Tuesday at Henry Feild Stadium. The championship is the first NCAA title in any sport for Georgia Tech, which has also won four national championships in football via wire service polls.
“I just couldn’t be happier,” said Tech head coach Bryan Shelton, whose team won its 21st straight match to finish the season at 29-4. “We fought our tails off. For Ali (Silverio) to come through in the clutch one more time for us in the final match of her career is just unbelievable.”
Tech fell behind by losing the doubles point and then trailed 2-1 before Miller and Striplin put the Jackets back on top 3-2 with Silverio just beginning her third set. Tech trailed in the remaining match on court six when Silverio finished off 40th-ranked Tracy Lin with a dominating 6-1 win in the third. Silverio had won the first 7-5 but dropped the second, also 7-5. Silverio, who also clinched the Jackets’ quarterfinal win over Fresno State, was named the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Tournament.
McDowell earned Tech’s first singles win with a 6-1, 6-0 blitzing of Ashley Joelson at No. 4 singles. The freshman from Atlanta won her 10th straight match and her team-leading 39th of the season. She was undefeated in the NCAA matches to earn a spot on the all-tournament team.
One day after clinching Tech’s semifinal win over California, Striplin again provided a key victory as she rallied for a three-set win over Alex McGoodwin at No. 5 singles. After losing the first set, Striplin won 12 of the final 14 games for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory and was also named to the all-tournament team.
Miller, ranked sixth in the nation, defeated No. 15 Riza Zalameda at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 7-6.
UCLA dominated in doubles winning 8-3 at both No. 1 and No. 2, although the Jackets led on court three when doubles ended. Zalameda and Yasmin Schnack defeated Tech’s third-raked duo of Miller and Whitney McCray, and Joelson and Goodwin downed Silverio and Amanda Craddock.
The Bruins earned a singles win from Schnack, who defeated Craddock at No. 3, and Lumpkin was leading for UCLA at No. 6.
No. 3 Georgia Tech 4, No. 12 UCLA 2
NCAA Championship Match, Henry Feild Stadium, Athens, Ga.
SINGLES
1. (6) Kristi Miller (GT) d. (15) Riza Zalameda (UCLA), 6-3, 7-6 (3)
2. (93) Alison Silverio (GT) d. (40) Tracy Lin (UCLA), 7-5, 5-7, 6-1
3. (56) Yasmin Schnack (UCLA) d. (71) Amanda Craddock (GT), 6-3, 6-1
4. (94) Amanda McDowell (GT) d. (107) Ashley Joelson (UCLA), 6-1, 6-0
5. (62) Christy Striplin (GT) d. Alex McGoodwin (UCLA), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, DNF
6. Elizabeth Lumpkin (UCLA) led (108) Tarryn Rudman (GT), 2-6, 6-3, 5-2
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2
Clinching Match: No. 2 singles
DOUBLES
1. (19) Riza Zalameda/Yasmin Schnack (UCLA) d. (3) Kristi Miller/Whitney McCray (GT), 8-3
2. (53) Ashley Joelson/Alex Goodwin (UCLA) d. (26) Alison Silverio/Amanda Craddock (GT), 8-3
3. Tarryn Rudman/Kirsten Flower (GT) led (41) Elizabeth Lumpkin/Stephaine Wetmore (UCLA), 6-2, DNF
Order of Finish: 2,1
Records: Georgia Tech 29-4, UCLA 21-8
