April 24, 2015
CARY, N.C. — Freshman Paige Hourigan’s three-set win on court two propelled the #25 Georgia Tech women’s tennis team past #23 Duke, 4-3, and into the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon at the Cary Tennis Park.
“It was a very exciting match,” head coach Rodney Harmon said. “I think the girls got a lot of momentum and were excited after watching the men’s team win today. They were so pumped up for the guys and took a lot of that energy into the match today.”
Number six-seed Georgia Tech (15-8, 9-5 ACC) won its fourth-straight match against number three-seed Duke (16-9, 11-3 ACC) and advances to face #10 seed Florida State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“It thought we played very well in doubles,” Harmon said. “In singles we knew it was going to be a battle, and it was a battle, because Duke is one of the best teams in the nation. We were fortunate enough to have some really good performances from Megan, Rasheeda and Paige closed the match out for us. It was very good effort. We now have to get ready for a touch match against Florida State tomorrow.”
After Georgia Tech won the doubles point, junior Natasha Prokhnevska fell in straight-sets, 6-2, 6-2, to Chalena Scholl, tying up the match, 1-1. Junior Megan Kurey was quick to give the Jackets the lead back, putting together a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Annie Mulholland at the number six position.
A three set loss to #83 Samantha Harris by junior Kendal Woodard, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, had the Blue Devils back on top but sophomore Rasheeda McAdoo came through shortly after with a 6-1, 6-2 victory on court four against Rachel Kahan to put Tech up, 3-2.
The winning point would come on court two where #53 Hourigan was battling #39 Goldfeld in three sets for #102 Johnnise Renaud fell to #89 Beatrice Capra, 7-5, 6-0, at number one in a tough match.
Hourigan easily won set one, 6-2, against Goldfeld, but stumbled in set two, 6-3. The second set loss didn’t deter Hourigan at all, for she cruised through six straight games to a 6-0 win in the third and clinching the 4-3 win.
The Yellow Jackets were quick to get ahead against Duke, rolling to two doubles wins on courts one and three. The #16-ranked Hourigan and Woodard was down for one game to Goldfeld and Alyssa Smith before rattling off seven straight games to go ahead 7-1. The duo preserved its win streak, holding on to defeat Goldfeld and Smith, 8-3, for their seventh straight victory.
Court three was quick to finish next. McAdoo and Renaud took down a ranked opponent, #71 Annie Mulholland and Chalena School, 8-4, to give the Yellow Jackets’ its 1-0 lead. Georgia Tech has won the doubles point in nine-straight matches.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia Tech vs Duke
Apr 24, 2015 at Cary, NC
(Cary Tennis Park)
#25 Georgia Tech 4, #23 Duke 3
Singles competition
- #89 Beatrice Capra (DUKE) def. #102 Johnnise Renaud (GT) 7-5, 6-0
- #53 Paige Hourigan (GT) def. #39 Ester Goldfeld (DUKE) 6-2, 3-6, 6-0
- #83 Samantha Harris (DUKE) def. Kendal Woodard (GT) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
- Rasheeda McAdoo (GT) def. Rachel Kahan (DUKE) 6-1, 6-2
- Chalena Scholl (DUKE) def. Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) 6-2, 6-2
- Megan Kurey (GT) def. Annie Mulholland (DUKE) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
- #16 Paige Hourigan/Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Ester Goldfeld/Alyssa Smith (DUKE) 8-3
- #31 Samantha Harris/Beatrice Capra (DUKE) vs. Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer/Megan Kurey (GT) 4-5, unfinished
- Rasheeda McAdoo/Johnnise Renaud (GT) def. #71 Annie Mulholland/Chalena Scholl (DUKE) 8-4
Match Notes:
Georgia Tech 14-8, 9-5 ACC; National ranking #25
Duke 16-8, 11-3 ACC; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,6,3,4,1,2)
Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament
–TogetherWeSwarm–
