No.14 Clemson women's tennis advances in ITA Kickoff

CLEMSON — The Clemson women’s tennis team defeated 59th-ranked Purdue, 4-2, in the Championship match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend Clemson Regional. The 14th-ranked Tigers (5-0) advance to Charlottesville, VA to take on the nation’s top teams in the round of 16 from Feb. 10-13. It was hardly an easy ride through, as Purdue (1-1) gave the Tigers all they could handle on Sunday, a day after upsetting No. 46 Kansas State to get a shot at Clemson, who downed UNC Wilmington, 4-0, on Saturday.

Clemson won the doubles point for the fourth time this season, and improved to 4-0 this season and 19-0 in the past two seasons when winning the doubles point. The nation’s eighth-ranked duo of Josipa Bek and Keri Wong improved to 11-3 together this year with an 8-4 win at flight one. Coupled with a win from Klara Vyskocilova and Monika Kochanova at flight three, 8-6, the Tigers claimed the crucial point.

Purdue’s Jennifer Rabot tied up the match quickly in singles play, downing Josipa Bek in straight sets, 6-3 ,6-3 on court one. No. 65 Keri Wong bounced back from a slow start to defeat Lynda Xepoleas, 6-4, 6-2 at flight two to give the lead back to Clemson. Xepoleas had won a day earlier in three sets over the 94th-ranked player in the nation to help Purdue’s upset of K-State.

Nelly Ciolkowski dropped her first match of the season, 7-5, 6-2 to Mara Schmidt at three singles to knot the match at 2-2 with three doubles matches to play. But Klara Vyskocilova fought off a first set 6-3 loss to Daniela Vidal at four singles to win the next two sets, 6-3, 6-4 and bring Clemson to the brink of advancing.

Freshman Romy Koelzer wasted little time in jumping out to a lead, and took her match, 6-4, 6-2 at flight five to clinch the match against Anna Dushkina. The first-year player from Germany improved to 4-0 on the season, and held the Tigers to advance to nationals again.

Clemson will learn their matchup next week, but will first play at Furman on Wednesday in Greenville. The Tigers then host the second annual Winter Classic next weekend.