Feb. 13, 2013
THE FLATS – The 22nd-ranked Georgia Tech women’s tennis team dropped its ACC-opener 6-1 at No. 20 Clemson Wednesday afternoon. Freshman Natasha Prokhnevska earned the lone Georgia Tech point with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Tristen Dewar on court six. The win ties her with Kendal Woodard for a team-best 10 singles wins this year.
The Yellow Jackets fall to 2-3 (0-1 ACC) in 2013 while the Tigers improve to 3-2 (1-0 ACC).
“It was certainly a tough match for us today,” head coach Rodney Harmon said. “I have to give Clemson credit. They came out and competed hard on every court. Losing the doubles point the way we did was tough and they were able to carry that momentum into singles play. Now we have to come back and focus on getting better before we take on Georgia State.”
Clemson was able to win the doubles point but not without a fight from the Jackets. The Tigers edged ahead with an 8-2 win on court three by Beatrice Gumulya and Liz Jeukeng over Tech’s Muriel Wacker and Natasha Prokhnevska. Elizabeth Kilborn and Alex Anghelescu leveled doubles with an 8-4 win on court two.
Playing from the No. 1 spot of the lineup for the first time this year, Megan Kurey and Kendal Woodard rallied from down 7-5 to tie the score 7-7. The Jackets took an 8-7 lead but Clemson’s duo of Yana Koroleva and Tristen Dewar forced a tiebreak which the Tigers won 7-4.
It was only the second time this year that Georgia Tech has lost the doubles point.
Koroleva, ranked No. 26, put the Tigers up 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-2 win over the 62nd-ranked Kilborn on court one. Woodard fell 2-6, 3-6 to Clemson’s 49th-ranked Jeukeng at court two.
Koelzer clinched the Clemson win with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anghelescu on court three.
Kurey won a tough first set, 6-4, over Clemson’s 57th-ranked Gumulya but the Tiger forced a third set with a 6-1 second set victory. Gumulya claimed the match with a 7-6 third set win, putting the Tigers up 5-0. Ani Miao put Clemson up 6-0 with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Muriel Wacker on court five.
Georgia Tech returns home to face the Georgia State Panthers at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s tennis on Twitter, @GT_WTEN, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensTennis, for an inside look at the program.
Match Results
Georgia Tech vs Clemson
Feb 13, 2013 at Clemson, SC
(Clemson Indoor Tennis Center)
#20 Clemson 6, #22 Georgia Tech 1
Singles competition
1. #26 Yana Koroleva (CU) def. #62 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) 6-0, 6-2
2. #49 Liz Jeukeng (CU) def. Kendal Woodard (GT) 6-2, 6-3
3. #57 Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Megan Kurey (GT) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Alex Anghelescu (GT) 6-3, 6-4
5. Ani Miao (CU) def. Muriel Wacker (GT) 6-3, 6-0
6. Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Tristen Dewar (CU) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Yana Koroleva/Tristen Dewar (CU) def. Kendal Woodard/Megan Kurey (GT) 9-8 (7-4), 7-4
2. Elizabeth Kilborn/Alex Anghelescu (GT) def. Ani Miao/Romy Koelzer (CU) 8-4
3. Beatrice Gumulya/Liz Jeukeng (CU) def. Muriel Wacker/Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) 8-2
Match Notes:
Georgia Tech 2-3 (0-1 ACC); National ranking #22
Clemson 3-2 (1-0 ACC); National ranking #20
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2,4,3,5,6)
–RamblinWreck.com–
