Tech Faces Clemson for Second Time This Season

The match is set to begin at noon at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center in Clemson, South Carolina

March 11, 2017

COLLEGE STATION – The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team returns to the court this weekend, as the Hokies square off against Clemson Sunday afternoon for the second time this year. The match is set to begin at noon at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center in Clemson, South Carolina.

“We know that every match we play in our conference is tough, and it is a good opportunity for our team,” said Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods. “The more we focus on our game and the process of the season, the better we continue to get. We expect another great match tomorrow against Clemson, and I am looking forward to a terrific team effort from our group.”

Virginia Tech (7-4, 0-2 ACC) most recently took on Clemson (4-7, 1-3 ACC) at the ITA Kickoff Weekend held in Nashville, Tennessee, beating the Tigers by a score of 4-2 on Jan. 28 – the squads first victory over the Tigers since 2001. The doubles teams of Francesca Fusinato and Katherine Butler and Natalie Novotna and Sansitha Nandakumar combined to win the doubles point, and Fusinato, Novotna and Elena Cerezo-Codina each recorded wins in singles action to lift Tech to the win.

In its last weekend of competition, Tech dropped back-to-back matches to open Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. Novotna recorded Tech’s lone victory in the team’s 6-1 setback at then-ranked No. 5 Georgia Tech on March 3. The team then traveled to in-state rival Virginia on March 5, ultimately falling to the Cavaliers by a score of 4-3. Fusinato, Novotna and Nandakumar each recorded singles wins in the loss.

Of note, Fusinato entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) top-100 poll for the second time this season at No. 93 this week, boasting an 8-3 record at the No. 1 position. The Feltre Belluno, Italy, native has won four of her last five matches, upsetting two ranked opponents in the process. Fusinato has topped four ranked opponents at the No. 1 slot this season.

Additionally, Novotna checked into the ITA top-100 poll for the first time in her career at No. 99. The Vysoka nad Labem, Czech Republic, native holds a team-best 10-0 mark, primarily playing at the No. 3 position. Last weekend, Novotna was the lone Hokie to win a singles match vs. Georgia Tech, upsetting then-No. 71 Rasheeda McAdoo in a three-set tiebreaker. Novotna also shows one win at the No. 2 slot and three wins at the No. 4 slot this season.

Clemson is coming off a 6-1 win against Louisville on March 10 in Clemson, South Carolina. The Tigers won the doubles point and five of six singles matches to claim the victory at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. Ayan Broomfield, the reigning ACC Women’s Player of the Week, leads the team with an 11-10 overall record and also is ranked No. 77 nationally. Additionally, the doubles tandem of Broomfield and Marie-Alexandre Leduc checked in at No. 35 in this week’s ITA doubles rankings. The duo boast a 4-1 dual-match record at the No. 1 slot this season.

Overall, Clemson holds an 18-4 all-time series advantage over the Hokies.

Fans can follow all the action during each match of the 2017 season by following the squad on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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