Feb. 13, 2009

MADISON, Wis. -

Box Score in PDF Format
ITA National Team Indoor Championship Home Page

The No. 2-ranked California women's tennis team (4-0) defeated No. 12 Clemson (5-2), 4-3, today in the first round of the 2009 ITA National Team Indoor Championships hosted by the University of Wisconsin at the A.C. Nielson Tennis Center. The Golden Bears will advance to the quarterfinals where they will face defending champion No. 7-ranked Georgia Tech (4-0) in a 3:30 p.m. CT match tomorrow (Feb. 14). Cal has now won its first match at the Indoor Championships in its last seven trips to Wisconsin.

The Bears failed to secure the doubles point for the second match in a row but still won by coming back with strong performances in singles play. Sophomore Mari Andersson and freshman Jana Juricova came away with an 8-4 win over Josipa Bek and Ina Hadziselimovic on court two to knot up the doubles point but the Tigers snagged the 1-0 advantage when Ani Mijacika and Keri Wong defeated No. 7 sophomore Marina Cossou and senior Claire Ilcinkas on the top court, 8-3.

Into singles matches, right away, Clemson jumped out to a 2-0 lead as No. 4 Mijacika put a three-set win on No. 13 Cossou, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 on the top court. The Bears fought back to tie the match at two-all with wins on court three and court five. On three, Andersson came away with a 6-2, 7-5 win against No. 111-ranked Wong. On court five, No. 15-ranked senior Bojana Bobusic needed a third set but fought off Hadziselimovic to win 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

The Bears continued to push as No. 30-ranked Ilcinkas came away with a 6-1, 6-2 win against Estefania Balda on court four. Cal secured its place in the quarterfinal when No. 52-ranked Juricova claimed a quick 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 10-ranked Bek on court two. Juricova’s successful return from injury netted her the 21st win of her freshman campaign and her eighth in a row. The last match off court, freshman Stephany Chang couldn’t break through against No. 117 Alexandra Luc on the sixth court, and fell 6-1, 7-6; losing the tiebreaker, 7-3.

No. 2 California 4, No. 12 Clemson 3
ITA National Team Indoor Championship
A.C. Nielson Tennis Center | Madison, Wis.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Doubles
1. Mijacika/Wong (CLEM) def. No. 7 Cossou/Ilcinkas (CAL) 8-3
2. Andersson/Juricova (CAL) def. Bek/Hadziselimovic (CLEM) 8-4
3. Balda/Luc (CLEM) def. Bobusic/Chang (CAL) 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1* (Clemson wins doubles point)
Singles
1. No. 4 Ani Mijacika (CLEM) def. No. 13 Marina Cossou (CAL) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
2. No. 52 Jana Juricova (CAL) def. No. 10 Josipa Bek (CLEM) 6-2, 6-1
3. Mari Andersson (CAL) def. No. 111 Keri Wong (CLEM) 6-2, 7-5
4. No. 30 Claire Ilcinkas (CAL) def. Estefania Balda (CLEM) 6-1, 6-2
5. No. 15 Bojana Bobusic (CAL) def. Ina Hadziselimovic (CLEM) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
6. No. 117 Alexandra Luc (CLEM) def. Stephany Chang (CAL) 6-1, 7-6(3)
Order of finish: 1, 3, 5, 4, 2*, 6