March 25, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman Irina Falconi defeated Catherine Newman at the top spot in lineup as the sixth-ranked Georgia Tech women’s tennis team held off Vanderbilt, 4-3 Wednesday at the Currey Tennis Center.
The Yellow Jackets (11-5) defeated Vanderbilt for only the third time in 13 tries and snapped a two-match loosing streak to the Commodores (5-5).
Falconi, the seventh-ranked player in the nation, was battled but held off the 61st-ranked Newman for a 6-4, 6-4 victory to clinch the win for Tech.
Junior Amanda McDowell earned her sixth singles win in seven matches with a 6-0, 6-4 defeat of No. 112 Keilly Ulery on court two. The Jackets also got singles victories from Christy Striplin, a 6-1, 6-2 over Chelsea Preeg in the fourth flight, and from Sasha Krupina, who defeated Heather Stteinbauer 6-2, 6-3 on court five.
The Commodores opened an early 1-0 lead on the Yellow Jackets by taking two of three doubles matches. Tech’s duo of Krupina and Falconi defeated Newman and Preeg, 8-5 on court two but the Jackets would drop the matches from the top flight and third flight to give Vanderbilt the point.
Tech will continue its three-match road trip this weekend when it travels to North Carolina for a Saturday meeting with Wake Forest and a match with NC State Sunday.
