THE FLATS – Georgia Tech women’s tennis moved to 11-2 on the season and 2-0 in ACC play on Friday, claiming a 6-1 victory over No. 48 Virginia Tech. The Jackets, ranked No. 5 in the country, claimed the doubles point and five singles matches to take the win.
DOUBLES ACTION: With wins at the number one and two courts, the Jackets gained a 1-0 lead entering singles play against Virginia Tech. The No. 7 doubles tandem in the country, Rasheeda McAdoo and Johnnise Renaud, remained perfect on the season, improving to 12-0 overall with a 6-1 rout over Caroline Daxhelet and Elena Cerezo-Codina at the top seed. Paige Hourigan and Kenya Jones picked up their 10th dual win of the season with a 6-1 victory over Katherine Butler and Francesca Fusinato at the No. 2 seed to clinch the doubles point for Tech.
SINGLES PLAY: The Jackets got off to a quick start in singles play, claiming the first set on courts one through five and clinched the match 4-0 with three straight set victories. First off the court, Kenya Jones topped No. 92 Dazhelet 6-0, 6-4. Jones cruised through the first set and went ahead 3-0 in the second set before dropping her first game of the match. The freshman pulled out a 6-4 second set win to put the Jackets ahead 2-0.
Otsuka wrapped up next for Tech on court five, pushing Tech’s lead to 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Nancy Ghanem. After going ahead 3-1 in the first set, Ghanem knotted it up at 3-3 before Otsuka claimed the next three games to win the first set 6-3. The freshman cruised in the second set, claiming her 15th win of the season. Renaud clinched the match for the Jackets at the top seed, upending Fusinato 6-3, 6-1. Standing tied at 3-3 in the first set, Renaud took the next three games to win 6-3 in the first set. The Jacket clinched the match with a 6-1 second set win.
After dropping the first set, Nadia Gizdova rebounded with a 6-3 second set win to force a third set tiebreak. Gizdova took the match, winning the tiebreak 10-2 over Nandakumar, giving Tech a 5-0 lead. VT claimed its only match of the day on court three as Novotna edged McAdoo, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4). Hourigan wrapped up the match on court three with a hard-fought win. Trailing 3-1 in the first set, Hourigan won the next five games to take the set 6-1. After dropping the second set 6-4, Hourigan cruised in the third set and claimed a three-set victory with a 6-1 third set win.
QUOTABLE: “Today was a good match. Virginia Tech is a really good team and we know how good they are – they beat us last year up in Blacksburg. So we were prepared and knew we were going to have to play really well to win the match. I was really happy with the way Johnnise, Nami and Kenya all played today. I was pleased with the overall team effort and we’re going to have to bring the same kind of focus on Sunday at Clemson.” – Head Coach Rodney Harmon
UP NEXT: Georgia Tech plays its first ACC road match of the season on Sunday, traveling to Clemson for a noon match.
No. 48 Virginia Tech vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech Results
Match Score: No. 5 Georgia Tech 6, No. 48 Virginia Tech 1
DOUBLES
1. No. 7 Rasheeda McAdoo/Johnnise Renaud (Georgia Tech) def. Caroline Daxhelet/Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT) 6-1
2. No. 30 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones (GT) def. Katherine Butler/Francesca Fusinato (VT) 6-1
3. Sansitha Nandakumar/Natalie Novotna vs. Nami Otsuka/Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer (GT) 4-3, DNF
Order of finish: 1, 2
Point: Georgia Tech
SINGLES
1. Johnnise Renaud (GT) def. Francesca Fusinato (VT) 6-3, 6-1
2. Paige Hourigan (GT) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
3. Natalie Novotna (VT) def. No. 71 Rasheeda McAdoo (GT) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)
4. Kenya Jones (GT) def. No. 92 Caroline Daxhelet (VT) 6-0, 6-4
5. No. 102 Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Nancy Ghanem (VT) 6-3, 6-1
6. Nadia Gizdova (GT) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-2)
Order of finish: 4,5,1,6,3,2
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