Jan. 27, 2009
ATLANTA – The No. 8 Georgia Tech women’s tennis team will open the Spring dual-match season this Wednesday when it meets No. 27 Auburn at the Bill Moore Tennis Center beginning at 3 p.m.
The two teams will meet for the 20th time Wednesday, with the Yellow Jackets holding a 10-9 advantage in the series. Georgia Tech has won the last eight meetings, including at 7-0 win last season at Auburn.
“This team is so excited to play against another team,” head coach Bryan Shelton said. “We are tired of beating up on each other in practice. This group relishes the opportunity of playing as a team.”
Senior Christy Striplin and junior Amanda McDowell lead a Yellow Jacket team that enters the 2009 campaign with four returners from last season’s ITA Team National Indoor Championship team. McDowell, the 2008 NCAA Singles Champion, and Striplin have combined for 195 singles wins in their time on the Flats.
The Yellow Jackets currently have four players ranked in the top 60 in the nation, including three who are ranked among the top 30. McDowell is Tech’s highest-ranked singles player, standing at No. 11 in the nation, while freshman Irina Falconi ranks 23rd and Striplin stands at No. 27. McDowell and Falconi are the teams’ highest-ranked doubles team at No. 4 in the nation.
Tech returns to action this weekend, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, when it hosts the ITA National Team Indoor Qualifier at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. The Yellow Jackets will face No. 25 TCU Saturday at 2:30 p.m., and will meet either No. 20 Florida State or No. 21 Arizona State Sunday.
– RamblinWreck.com –
