Georgia Tech Team Page
CARY, N.C. - Despite the cool and breezy early morning start time, the Georgia Tech women's tennis team came out hot, cruising to a 4-0 win over the Maryland Terrapins in the first round of the ACC Tournament at the Cary (N.C.) Tennis Park Thursday morning.
The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 22, improve to 14-8 on the year. Tech, the fifth seed, will face fourth-seeded and 10th-ranked Miami at noon Friday in the second round. The Hurricanes' bested the Jackets 6-1 on March 9 in Atlanta. The Terrapins finish the season with a 6-16 record.
It is the third straight year Georgia Tech has beat Maryland in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
"We're happy to get the win. Maryland just had a win over Duke. They are a very scrappy team and have some talented players," head coach Rodney Harmon said. "Their No. 1 player just made All-ACC, which was well deserved for her. We knew we had to come out and match their intensity and play hard.
"I think the momentum starts with doubles, we were able to play good doubles and that was the key," Harmon added. "Our No. 1 team played very, very well and got off first. We played clean at three doubles as well. It was good because they have good doubles teams. We were happy to get off and carry that momentum into singles. I thought all the girls played very well."
The Georgia Tech doubles pair of Megan Kurey and Kendal Woodard continued to be a dominant pair at the top of the Yellow Jacket lineup. The rookie duo raced out to a 3-0 lead on court one, saw the Terrapins' team of Vroni Van Berlo and Sarah Gealer pull back within 4-3 before closing out an 8-4 win on court one. Kurey and Woodard improve to 23-5 overall this year and 19-2 in dual matches this spring.
The Jackets' veteran team of senior Elizabeth Kilborn and junior Muriel Wacker battled to a 3-3 tie early against Maryland's Olga Gaistruk and Gabriela Srodowski at No. 3 doubles before the Yellow Jackets ripped off five straight games for an 8-3 win and clinching the doubles point for Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets began singles just as well as the finished doubles, winning the first set on all six courts.
Freshman Natasha Prokhnevska claimed the first Georgia Tech singles victory as she beat Maryland's Olga Bredikhina 6-2, 6-0 on court three. Woodard, ranked No. 90, quickly followed with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Sarah Gealer on court two. It was the team-best 22nd singles win for Woodard this year.
Kurey clinched the Yellow Jacket victory with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court four over Olga Gaistruk. It is the fourth Yellow Jacket match this year that the Alpharetta, Ga., native has clinched for Georgia Tech.
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.
Maryland vs Georgia Tech
Apr 25, 2013 at Cary, N.C.
(Cary Tennis Park)
#22 Georgia Tech 4, Maryland 0
Singles competition
1. #94 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) vs. #107 Vroni Van Berlo (MD) 6-3, 0-3, unfinished
2. #90 Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Sarah Gealer (MD) 6-1, 6-2
3. Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Olga Bredikhina (MD) 6-2, 6-0
4. Megan Kurey (GT) def. Olga Gaistruk (MD) 6-1, 6-1
5. Muriel Wacker (GT) vs. Nataliya Bredikhina (MD) 6-1, 3-0, unfinished
6. Jasmine Minor (GT) vs. Gabriela Srodowski (MD) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #56 Megan Kurey/Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Vroni Van Berlo/Sarah Gealer (MD) 8-4
2. Natasha Prokhnevska/Jasmine Minor (GT) vs. Olga Bredikhina/Nataliya Bredikhina (MD) 4-4, unfinished
3. Elizabeth Kilborn/Muriel Wacker (GT) def. Olga Gaistruk/Gabriela Srodowski (MD) 8-3
Match Notes:
Maryland 6-16, 1-10 ACC
Georgia Tech 14-8, 7-4 ACC; National ranking #22
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,2,4)
ACC Tournament First Round
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