March 20, 2009
Hokies head south for key ACC matches
Tech faces No. 13 Clemson and No. 6 Georgia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. --- The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team travels south this weekend for two tough matches against No. 13 Clemson and No. 6 Georgia Tech. The Hokies will play the Tigers Saturday at 11 a.m. and face the Yellow Jackets Sunday also at 11 a.m.

Virginia Tech (10-4), ranked No. 51 in this week’s ITA national poll, won a tough 5-2 decision at home on Wednesday against Richmond. The Hokies had to take two, three-set matches to pull out the victory. The Hokies success will once again rely heavily on the success of freshman Martha Blakely (Reading, Pa.) and Courtney Rauscher (Evans, Ga.). Blakely has been solid at the No. 3 position a 9-4 dual match record and is 2-1 in the ACC. Rauscher has seen action at both the No. 5 and No. 6 positions and has a combined 8-2 worksheet. The top of the lineup will once again have Inga Beermann (Sr., Bad Salzuflen, Germany) who is 8-4 in dual matches and 2-1 in the conference.

Clemson (10-5, 2-1) features the nation’s top-ranked player, Ani Mijacika, along with No. 10 Josipa Bek, No. 95 Estefania Balda and No. 102 Keri Wong. The Tigers also have two ranked doubles teams including No. 8 Mijackia/Wong and No. 36 Bek/Ina Hadziselimovic. Clemson leads the series 9-4 and the Tigers hold a 4-0 advantage in ACC contests.

Georgia Tech (8-5, 2-1) is once again one of the top programs in the nation with a lineup including defending national champion and 18th-ranked Amanda McDowell. The Yellow Jackets also feature No. 7 Irina Falconi along with No. 43 Noelle Hickey and No. 46 Christy Striplin. Falconi/McDowell (No. 5) and Hickey/Striplin (No. 20) lead a strong doubles lineup. Georgia Tech leads the series 6-2 and 4-0 in conference matches.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WTennis).

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