WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Georgia Tech women's tennis team cruised to a 4-3 win over Wake Forest Saturday afternoon at the Leighton Courts on the Wake Forest campus in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Freshman Natasha Prokhnevska put the Yellow Jackets up 4-0 and clinched the Tech team win with a 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Demon Deacons' Kasey Gardiner on court three. Tech retired the final three active matches to make the final score 4-3.
The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 23, improve to 12-8 overall and 6-4 in the ACC. Wake Forest falls to 3-17 overall and 2-8 in the league.
"Wake Forest played well today but we played extremely well," head coach Rodney Harmon said. "We played very well in doubles and clinched that point easily and carried that winning momentum into singles play. Kendal and Megan continue to play very cleanly in both doubles and singles. It was great for Natasha to rally from a first set loss to clinch the win."
Tech won the doubles point for the 11th time this season with victories on courts one and three, while the Jackets led 6-2 on court two when the point was clinched.
Kendal Woodard and Megan Kurey continue to be one of the best doubles teams in the conference. The freshman pair rolled to an 8-5 victory over Kathryn Talbert and Kasey Gardiner at No. 1. The Tech side improves to 21-5 overall, 17-2 in dual matches and 8-1 in the ACC. Woodard and Kurey have won six straight matches and nine of their last 10.
Sophomore Jasmine Minor and Prokhnevska clinched the opening point for the Jackets with an 8-2 victory over Brigita Bercyte and Andrea Retolaza on court three.
Kurey cruised in her singles match with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karen Forman on court four to put Tech up 2-0. Kurey improves to 17-14 on her rookie campaign and has won three straight matches. Woodard rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Xue Zhang at the second spot of the lineup for her team-best 20th singles win and sixth straight victory.
The Yellow Jackets will take on the NC State Wolfpack tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Raleigh in the regular-season finale. The ACC Championship begins April 25 at the Cary (N.C.) Tennis Park.
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.
Georgia Tech vs Wake Forest
Apr 20, 2013 at Winston-Salem, N.C.
(Leighton Courts)
#23 Georgia Tech 4, Wake Forest 3
Singles competition
1. #99 Kathryn Talbert (WF) def. #86 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) 6-2, 2-6, 0-0, retired
2. #98 Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Xue Zhang (WF) 6-3, 6-2
3. Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Kasey Gardiner (WF) 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Megan Kurey (GT) def. Karen Forman (WF) 6-1, 6-1
5. Andrea Retolaza (WF) def. Muriel Wacker (GT) 6-4, 5-2, retired
6. Brigita Bercyte (WF) def. Jasmine Minor (GT) 6-2, 5-5, retired
Doubles competition
1. #57 Kendal Woodard/Megan Kurey (GT) def. Kathryn Talbert/Kasey Gardiner (WF) 8-5
2. Karen Forman/Xue Zhang (WF) vs. Elizabeth Kilborn/Muriel Wacker (GT) 2-6, unfinished
3. Natasha Prokhnevska/Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Brigita Bercyte/Andrea Retolaza (WF) 8-2
Match Notes:
Georgia Tech 12-8 (6-4 ACC); National ranking #23
Wake Forest 3-17 (2-8 ACC)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,2,3,1,5,6)
T-2:28 A-113
--RamblinWreck.com--
