April 13, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s tennis team dropped a tough 4-3 decision to No. 17 Virginia Saturday afternoon at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 19, fall to 10-8 overall and 4-4 in the ACC while the Cavaliers improve to 14-7 overall and 7-1 in the conference.
“It was a very well played match today,” head coach Rodney Harmon said. “Virginia has a very good team and was just a couple points better than us today. We didn’t play as well in doubles as I would’ve liked but we played very well in singles.
“I thought Kendal and Megan both played very well,” Harmon continued. “Muriel played extremely well in singles again. I was proud of the way Elizabeth fought against the 11th-ranked player in the country. She hung in there to the very end.”
Virginia took the early lead by winning the doubles point. The Cavaliers earned an 8-3 win by Li Xi and Maria Fuccillo over Tech’s Natasha Prokhnevska and Jasmine Minor on court three. The Jackets No. 57 team of Kendal Woodard and Megan Kurey topped UVA’s No. 85 pair of Erin Vierra and Stephanie Nauta 8-6 on court one.
The `Hoos won the first point with an 8-5 victory by No. 88 ranked Julie Elbaba and Hana Tomljanovic over Tech’s Elizabeth Kilborn and Muriel Wacker on court two.
Wacker continued her strong play with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Vierra on court five. It is the sixth straight win for Wacker who now owns a 12-5 singles mark. Woodard put Georgia Tech up 2-1 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over 66th-ranked Stephanie Nauta on court two. Woodard improves to 19-12 on the season and 11-5 in dual matches.
Virginia leveled the team score at two with a 6-3, 6-1 win by Caryssa Peretz over Tech’s Minor on court six. The Cavaliers took a very brief 3-2 lead as Tomljanovic topped Prokhnevska 7-6, 6-0 on court three. Kurey quickly evened the team score at 3-3 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Li Xi on court four.
The team outcome was decided in a court one fight. Georgia Tech’s Elizabeth Kilborn, ranked No. 80, dominated in a 6-1 first set win but 11th-ranked Julia Elbaba rallied for a 6-3 second set win to force a decisive third set that would not only determine the individual winner but also the team winner.
Elbaba raced out a 4-0 lead in the third set but Kilborn fought back to within 4-2 before Elbaba finished off the third set, 6-2, and a 4-3 Cavalier victory.
The Jackets will host Virginia Tech Sunday at noon at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex. Prior to the match against the Hokies, Georgia Tech will celebrate Senior Day and the final home match for Elizabeth Kilborn.
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.
Virginia vs Georgia Tech
Apr 13, 2013 at Atlanta, Ga.
(Ken Byers Tennis Complex)
#17 Virginia 4, #19 Georgia Tech 3
Singles competition
1. #11 Julia Elbaba (UVA) def. #80 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. #108 Kendal Woodard (GT) def. #66 Stephanie Nauta (UVA) 7-5, 6-2
3. Hana Tomljanovic (UVA) def. Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) 7-6, 6-0
4. Megan Kurey (GT) def. Li Xi (UVA) 6-3, 6-3
5. Muriel Wacker (GT) def. Erin Vierra (UVA) 6-1, 6-1
6. Caryssa Peretz (UVA) def. Jasmine Minor (GT) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #57 Megan Kurey/Kendal Woodard (GT) def. #85 Erin Vierra/Stephanie Nauta (UVA) 8-6
2. #88 Julia Elbaba/Hana Tomljanovic (UVA) def. Elizabeth Kilborn/Muriel Wacker (GT) 8-5
3. Li Xi/Maria Fuccillo (UVA) def. Natasha Prokhnevska/Jasmine Minor (GT) 8-3
Match Notes:
Virginia 14-7, 7-1 ACC; National ranking #17
Georgia Tech 10-8, 4-4 ACC; National ranking #19
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,6,3,4,1)
–RamblinWreck.com–
