March 29, 2008

CLEMSON, SC - The 28th-ranked Clemson women's tennis team took a 1-0 lead into singles play for the 12th time this season and handed #30 Wake Forest its first conference loss of the season on Saturday afternoon at the Clemson Indoor Tennis Center.

The Tigers (7-9, 3-3 ACC) bettered the Deacs (8-6, 4-1 ACC) by a 6-1 margin to win their fifth straight match in the series. Clemson will return to the court on Sunday against NC State. Play is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center.

Ani Mijacika and Carol Salge partnered to post their fourth consecutive victory in doubles action. The Clemson duo defeated Sasha Kulikova and Sierra Poske, 8-3, at number one. Ina Hadziselimovic and Alexandra Luc then held off the Deac's team of Aileen Davis and Alexandra Hirsch, 8-5, at the third position to improve to 13-8 on the year.

Wake Forest avoided the sweep as Ana Jerman and Christian Tara edged the Tiger tandem of Estefania Balda and Federica van Adrichem at flight two (8-6).

In singles play, Mijacika put Clemson ahead, 2-0, with a straight-set victory at the top spot. She defeated Hirsch (6-4, 6-1) for her fifth straight win and 22nd overall. Salge improved to 5-1 in conference play with a 6-4, 6-4 win at flight three against Tara to give the Tigers the 3-0 edge.

Emilee Malvehy scored the first and only point of the day for the Deacs, defeating Van Adrichem, 7-5, 6-4, at the fourth position.

Balda then clinched the victory for Clemson with a come-from-behind, three-set victory at flight two. The Tiger sophomore fell in the first set to Kulikova (6-3) before rebounding to post the wins in the second and third sets (6-4, 6-1).

Hadziselimovic won easily at the fifth position against Katarina Reveche (6-1, 6-2), while Luc closed out the match with a 6-1, 7-6 defeat of Davis at flight six.

#28 Clemson 6, #30 Wake Forest 1
Doubles

1. #20 Mijacika/Salge (CU) def. Kulikova/Poske (WF), 8-3
2. Ana Jerman/Christian Tara (WF) def. Balda/Van Adrichem (CU), 8-6
3. Hadziselimovic/Luc (CU) def. Aileen Davis/Hirsch, 8-5

Order of Finish - 1, 3, 2

Singles

1. #2 Ani Mijacika (CU) def. Alexandra Hirsch (WF), 6-4, 6-1
2. Estefania Balda (CU) def. Sasha Kulikova (WF), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
3. Carol Salge (CU) def. Christian Tara (WF), 6-4, 6-4
4. Emilee Malvehy (WF) def. #124 Federica van Adrichem (CU), 7-5, 6-4
5. Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) def. Katarina Reveche (WF), 6-1, 6-2
6. Alexandra Luc (CU) def. Aileen Davis (WF), 6-1, 7-6

Order of Finish - 1, 3, 4, 2*, 5, 6

Records: Clemson 7-9, 3-3 ACC; Wake Forest 8-6, 4-1 ACC