Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
#13 Clemson
Roach Stars on Senior Day Despite 6-1 Loss to No. 13 Clemson
4/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 21, 2013
By Currie McFayden, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWTennis)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Catherine Roach triumphed on Senior Day for her first career ACC victory at No. 6 singles, but the Deacs fell 6-1 to No. 13 Clemson on Sunday on the Leighton Courts at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
Wake Forest (3-18, 2-9 ACC) and Clemson (14-6, 9-2 ACC) both completed their regular seasons with the matchup and can now look forward to the 2013 ACC Women's Tennis Championships that will begin on Thursday.
Roach and Kathryn Talbert were honored during a short Senior Day ceremony prior to the match, and Roach starred to rally back and earn her first-ever ACC victory, making the day even more special for the Columbia, S.C., senior.
In doubles action, Karen Forman and Xue Zhang established dominance early in their match against Tristen Dewar and Romy Koelzer at No. 2. The Deacon duo stormed out to a huge led and refused to release their grip on the match, easily claiming an 8-1 victory.
At the No. 3 position, Roach and Andrea Retolaza squared off against Liz Jeukeng and Ani Miao. The Deacs fell behind early, but mounted a mid-match rally to close the gap to 7-4. Unfortunately, they could not keep up that momentum as the Tigers earned an 8-4 win.
In the decisive doubles match at No. 1, Talbert and Kasey Gardiner exchanged early breaks with Yana Koroleva and Beatrice Gumulya, but the Tiger duo ultimately managed to pull away for an 8-4 decision that gave Clemson the doubles point.
In singles, the Tigers quickly managed to lock up the overall match with straight-sets wins at Nos. 2, 3 and 4. No. 27 Jeukeng downed Gardiner 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2, Miao defeated Forman 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4 and No. 35 Gumulya dropped Zhang 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3, giving Clemson an insurmountable 4-0 lead.
No. 99 Talbert and No. 18 Koroleva battled it out at the top spot. Talbert blazed out in the first set, pushing Koroleva around the court en route to taking the set 6-2, but the Tiger fought back. The Moscow native roared back in the second set, taking it 6-1 to level the match at one set apiece and send it to a decisive third set. Facing Koroleva's momentum, Talbert could not hold her off, falling 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to her opponent.
Retolaza and Dewar split their first two sets at No. 5, leading them to play a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a third set with the match already decided. Retolaza kept pace early, but Clemson's Dewar earned the 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (4) victory after taking the tiebreaker.
In what proved to be the most intensely-contested match of the day, Roach and Carola Pederzani faced one another at No. 6 singles. Roach, playing on Senior Day, jumped out to a 5-4 lead in the opening set before it slipped away, falling into Pederzani's hands. Now down a set, Roach battled back in the second, forcing it into a tiebreaker and winning it 7-2 to leave the match all square. In the 10-point tiebreaker, Roach seized control early and ultimately closed out the first ACC victory of her career with a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 1-0 (6) victory.
The Deacs will now await the release of the 2013 ACC Women's Tennis Championships bracket on Monday evening. Though their first-round opponent is still unknown, Wake Forest will be in action at some point on Thursday in Cary, N.C.
#13 Clemson 6, Wake Forest 1
Singles Competition
1. #18 Yana Koroleva (CU) def. #99 Kathryn Talbert (WF) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. #27 Liz Jeukeng (CU) def. Kasey Gardiner (WF) 6-1, 6-1
3. #35 Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Xue Zhang (WF) 6-4, 6-3
4. Ani Miao (CU) def. Karen Forman (WF) 6-2, 6-1
5. Tristen Dewar (CU) def. Andrea Retolaza (WF) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)
6. Catherine Roach (WF) def. Carola Pederzani (CU) 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 (10-6)
Doubles Competition
1. Yana Koroleva/Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Kathryn Talbert/Kasey Gardiner (WF) 8-4
2. Karen Forman/Xue Zhang (WF) def. Tristen Dewar/Romy Koelzer (CU) 8-1
3. Liz Jeukeng/Ani Miao (CU) def. Catherine Roach/Andrea Retolaza (WF) 8-4
Match Notes:
Clemson 14-6 (9-2 ACC); National ranking #13
Wake Forest 3-18 (2-9 ACC)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1*); Singles (2,4,3*,1,5,6)
T-3:48 A-116
