March 5, 2004
ATLANTA-Georgia Tech women’s tennis takes the court this weekend to host two conference foes as they open up the 2004 ACC season. The Yellow Jackets open the ACC schedule at home with No. 29 Wake Forest on Saturday at noon, and continue in conference on Sunday hosting No. 75 NC State at 2 p.m.
“It’s always exciting going into conference play,” head coach Bryan Shelton exclaimed. “We have such a strong conference. There are no ‘gimmes’ in the ACC, especially with women’s tennis. To get some momentum is huge. If we can get two [wins] this weekend, it definitely gives us a good jump on the field.”
Both Tech and Wake are looking for their first ACC win of the season. The Deacons come into Atlanta ranked 29th in the country owning a 7-2 record in dual matches. The Jackets currently own a 5-3 record and a season ranking No. 43. The Jackets and Deacs first saw action against one another in 1984 when Wake Forest handed Georgia Tech a 9-0 loss. Wake would win the next four meetings before Tech would capture its first win. Tech then went on to win back-to-back matches over the Deacs before Wake went on a 14-match winning streak. The Demon Deacons hold a 20-3 record against the Yellow Jackets all time with Tech’s most recent win coming last year when the Jackets beat the No.66 ranked Deacs, 6-1. The win was the first time that Georgia Tech beat Wake Forest since 1990. Tech is looking for its first set of back-to back wins over Wake since the 1989-90 seasons.
Georgia Tech is entering the match against ACC foe Wake Forest coming off a 4-3 loss against Pepperdine its last time out.
Four players on the team have collected six wins already this dual match season. Sophomore Kelly Anderson, senior Sekita Grant, senior Maria Nieto and freshman Lindsey Stauss have all earned six victories on the year helping lead Georgia Tech to a 5-3 record going into the ACC season.
After squaring off on Saturday, Tech returns to action on Sunday to take on No. 75 NC State. The Jackets hold a 13-12 advantage over the Wolfpack winning last year 5-2. The win marked the sixth straight win against State. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated against the Wolfpack under head coach Bryan Shelton.
“NC State is a much-improved team,” Shelton added. ” I think they are finally getting a little bit of credit. This is the first time they have snuck into the rankings. I don’t think they need to be overlooked at all. They are a good team.”
