Women's Tennis wins ACC Tourney
By Jamie Howell/ Student Publications
Amanda Craddock helped lead the Jackets to the ACC title, winning all three of her singles matches and both of her doubles matches in the tournament. Based on her performance, she earned the MVP award.
The Tech women's tennis team brought home its third consecutive ACC tournament title this year, proving themselves to be the best in the conference after clinching the second seed going into the competition.
Their first match against Duke went very well as No. 3 pair Kristi Miller and Whitney McCray beat No. 10 Daniela Bercek and Melissa Mang 8-1. Tech secured the doubles point when Kristin Flower and Tarryn Rudman beat Amanda Granson and Jessi Robinson 8-2.
The Jackets had little trouble in the singles matches as No. 74 Amanda Craddock beat Elizabeth Plotkin in a quick 6-1, 6-4 match. Rudman continued Tech's winning streak by beating Jessi Robinson 6-2, 6-1, and Amanda McDowell finished the sweep with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Tory Zawacki.
The next day they faced the third-seeded and No. 10 ranked North Carolina Tarheels. The match got off on the wrong foot as No. 3 Miller/McCray dropped their doubles match to No. 5 Sara Anundsen and Jenna Long, 7-9. The second and third doubles spots picked up the slack as Craddock and Alison Silverio beat Caitlin Collins and Sanaz Marand, 9-8 (7-4). Tech won the point when Flower and Rudman beat Meg Fanjoy and Austin Smith, 9-8 (7-1).
The Jackets started off poorly in their singles matches. The Tarheels took the first two points when No. 102 Smith beat No. 54 Christy Striplin and No. 66 Marand defeated No. 31 Flower. Both matches finished in straight sets. Tech quickly regrouped as No. 8 Miller, No. 74 Craddock and McDowell all won their matches in straight sets to give Tech the win. Miller also defeated the No. 4 player in the nation, Jenna Long.
The following day saw the Jackets win their third straight ACC title against Miami. They won four straight singles matches to beat the Hurricanes.
No. 74 Craddock started the rally with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 50 Audrey Banada. She finished the tournament with three decisive singles wins, two strong doubles wins and the tournament's MVP award. Following the win, McDowell won the next match 6-1, 6-1 over Romy Farah to give the Jackets a 2-1 lead. Miller then beat No. 1 Audra Cohen 7-5, 6-2, pushing Tech over the tipping point to victory. The Jackets completed the singles sweep as Striplin clinched the championship with a three set (2-6, 6-0, 6-1) victory over Caren Seenauth.
The following week, Tech opened NCAA championship play as a host site against Furman. The No. 3 ranked Jackets beat Furman quickly, 4-0. Miller/McCray and Rudman/Flower decisively won their doubles matches. Rudman, Striplin and Craddock quickly finished their singles matches in straight sets to win the game. By the end of the faceoff, no Tech player had trailed in any match.
The second day saw Tech facing Kentucky for a trip to the Sweet 16 in Athens, GA. Tech played the match the same way they beat Furman. No. 94 McDowell won her singles match over Whitney Spencer with a shutout (6-0, 6-0). No. 6 Miller then easily defeated Kim Coventry at the top singles spot in straight sets (6-1, 6-3). No. 62 Striplin defeated Jessica Giuggioli, 6-1, 6-0 to clinch the fourth point and the match victory.
The Jackets will face Fresno State this Friday in Athens.
The men's team received a bid to the ACC tournament despite winning just two out of their last 12 matches, but finished their season on a low note. Despite winning their last two games, the Jackets were unable to start a streak and fell in a close match to No. 35 Miami (4-3).
The following week, the Jackets were invited to the NCAA tournament and faced No. 19 Florida in the first round, losing 4-1.
Tech now looks ahead to next season, where they return seven out of nine men's roster players.
