Complete Results
Photo Gallery
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Second-seeded Clemson won the doubles point and took three singles victories in straight sets to defeat the University of South Alabama women's tennis team 4-0 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium.
The Tigers, ranked No. 21 in the nation, improved to 17-9, while the No.75 Jaguars ended their year with a 21-3 mark to tie the program's best win percentage in a season.
"It's good to be back in the tournament," said USA head coach
Jaco Keyser. "Clemson obviously showed how good they are today. They have a lot of experience with four seniors on the team. They came out and jumped on us early. We lost to a good team today and there's no shame in that."
Clemson earned the doubles point after dropping a combined three games on the Nos. 2 and 3 courts.
Joana Eidukonyte and
Daniela Ruiz defeated junior
Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia) and sophomore
Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) 8-1 at No. 3. Senior
Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.) and junior
Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovakia) fell 8-2 to
Romy Koelzer and
Yuilynn Miao in the No. 2 flight.
"The doubles point is always huge, especially against a team like Clemson," said Keyser. "If we could do anything over, I would love to play the doubles point again. They played great doubles, but I don't feel like we played our best doubles today. That's probably where their experience kicks in."
In singles action, No. 60
Beatrice Gumulya topped Mitta 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 2 position, and
Jessy Rompies dropped Meszarosova 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
To secure the win for Clemson, 12th-ranked Eidukonyte defeated senior
Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot.
"This experience was huge for the girls we have returning," said Keyser. "We can talk about situations like this and about the things we work in practice, but once you see and experience it, then you have a reference point. This will help the girls understand why we do certain types of drills and prepare for matches like today."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
