Feb. 25, 2007

CLEMSON, S.C. — The South Carolina women’s tennis team lost a 5-2 decision to No. 12 Clemson on Sunday on the Tigers’ home courts. The Gamecocks dropped to 5-2 on the year with the loss while Clemson improved to 7-2.

South Carolina lost the doubles point for the second consecutive match. Ani Mijacika and Federica van Adrichem posted an 8-1 victory at the No. 1 position against Gira Schofield and Ana Marija Zubori to get the contest underway. Estefania Balda and Carol Salge registered an 8-3 win over Christyn Lucas and Natasa Vuckovic to clinch the 1-0 lead for the Tigers. On court three, the Gamecocks’ Laura Ganzer and Vanessa Pinto pulled out an 8-5 win versus 32nd-ranked Maria Brito and Alexandra Luc.

Pinto, who was ineligible for Carolina’s first six matches this year, got a win in singles playing the No. 2 slot against No. 44-ranked Salge when the Tiger had to retire in the first set with an injury. Van Adrichem put Clemson back on top when she defeated Ganzer 6-4, 6-1 at four singles, and Balda pushed the lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Vuckovic at the No. 3 spot.

The Gamecocks stayed tough, and Lucas closed the margin to one after she claimed No. 5 singles from Ina Hadziselimovic by scores of 7-5, 6-4. Brito was too much for Megan McGavock, though, and she came away with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the junior at six. Mijacika, ranked 44th nationally, finished the match when she came back to beat Schofield 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 at the top position.

USC returns to the courts Wednesday hosting Marshall at 2 p.m. at Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center.

#12 Clemson (7-2) def. #34 South Carolina (5-2), 5-2

Singles
1. #47 Ani Mijacika, CU, def. Gira Schofield, USC, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Vanessa Pinto, USC, def. #44 Carol Salge, CU, 3-2, ret.
3. #84 Estefania Balda, CU, def. Natasa Vuckovic, USC, 6-3, 6-3
4. #91 Federica van Adrichem, CU, def. Laura Ganzer, USC, 6-4, 6-1
5. Christyn Lucas, USC, def. Ina Hadziselimovic, CU, 7-5, 6-4
6. Maria Brito, CU, def. Megan McGavock, USC, 6-3, 6-1

Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 1

Doubles
1. #55 Mijacika/van Adrichem, CU, def. #41 Schofield/Ana Marija Zubori, USC, 8-1
2. Balda/Salge, CU, def. Lucas/Vuckovic, USC, 8-3
3. Ganzer/Pinto, USC, def. #32 Brito/Alexandra Luc, CU, 8-5

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3