March 7, 2004
ATLANTA – Sekita Grant went three sets to clinch the match as Georgia Tech (7-3, 2-0 ACC) defeated NC State (4-4, 0-2) Sunday afternoon at the Bill Moore Tennis Center on the campus of Georgia Tech.
“It really was a good weekend for us,” said Tech head coach Bryan Shelton. “With us beating Wake Forest yesterday and then pulling the match out today was a great to start our ACC campaign. I told the girls that ACC play is like a whole new season and I think that they took that to heart. We played a tough team today, one that competed extremely well and battled to the very end. Even when the match was decided, they were still battling, but we have to give NC State a lot of credit because they fought really hard today. The girls were ready for it, and I’m really proud of our effort.”
Grant easily won her first set, 6-1, but dropped the second by a 6-4 margin to State’s Jennifer Jassawalla to set up the third and final set. With the Jackets ahead 3-2 in the match, Grant posted a 6-4 win in the No. 5 singles slot to secure Tech’s victory and a 2-0 record in league play.
“Sekita is our senior, one of our captains, and she acted like it today,” said Shelton. “Knowing that she couldn’t wait for anyone else to get that last point, she just went out there to get it, and she did. She competed well and would not be denied, so I am happy for her to get that clinching win today.”
The Jackets began the afternoon with wins in the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles positions to secure the 1-0 lead heading into singles play. Grant teamed with sophomore Kelly Anderson in the No. 1 slot to easily defeat the Pack’s combination of Barbara Orlay and Nandita Chandrasekar, 8-2, while sophomore Lyndsay Shosho and senior Maria Nieto secured an 8-6 win over Kristin Lam and Vania Apodaca at No. 2.
Anderson, playing No. 2 singles on the afternoon, easily defeated Lam, 6-1, 6-2 and freshman Alison Silverio followed with a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 4 over Apodaca to give the Jackets a 3-0 lead in the competition. After NC State’s Agustina Archevaleta posted a 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 win at No. 6 over Tech’s Kacie Anson and Chandrasekar secured a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory against Lindsey Stauss in the No. 3 slot, Grant polished off Jassawalla for the overall win.
The Jackets will return to action when host the second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs Thursday in a match that is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
No. 43 Georgia Tech 4, No. 75 NC State 3
Doubles (Georgia Tech wins the point) No. 1 Anderson/Grant (GT) def. Orlay/Chandrasekar (NCSU), 8-2 No. 2 Shosho/Maria Nieto (GT) def. Lam/Apodaca (NCSU), 8-6* No. 3 Jassawalla/Arechevaleta (NCSU) def. Anson/Silverio (GT), 8-6
Singles No. 1 Barbara Orlay (NCSU) def. Lyndsay Shosho (GT), 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6) No. 2 Kelly Anderson (GT) def. Kristin Lam (NCSU), 6-1, 6-2 No. 3 Nandita Chandrasekar (NCSU) def. Lindsey Stauss (GT), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 No. 4 Alison Silverio (GT) def. Vania Apodaca (NCSU), 6-0, 6-4 No. 5 Sekita Grant (GT) def. Jennifer Jassawalla (NCSU), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4** No. 6 Agustina Arechevaleta (NCSU) def. Kacie Anson (GT), 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
*Clinched Doubles Match **Clinched Singles Match
