CLEMSON, South Carolina - No. 14 Clemson swept the doubles point and claimed three singles matches to defeat UNCW, 4-0, in an opening match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend Saturday at the Clemson Indoor Tennis Center.
The Seahawks, making their debut in the national indoor event, had their record evened at 2-2 this spring. Clemson, one of the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Coast Conference, remains unbeaten at 4-0.
The Tigers captured the doubles point when Nelly Ciolkowski and Romy Kolzer paired to defeat Christina Lee and Alyssa Ritchie, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles. Monika Kochanova then teamed with Kiara Vyskocilova for an 8-3 decision over Casey Dashiell and Miller Hales in the No. 3 match.
In singles, Vyskocilova, ranked 58th nationally, increased Clemson's lead to 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over UNCW's Christina Riley at the No. 4 position. The 67th-ranked Ciolkowski then slipped past Kelly Cameron, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 3 singles for a 3-0 lead.
Clemson's Keri Wong, ranked No. 65, then clinched the match with a 7-6 (2), 7-5, decision over Seahawk sophomore Angie Sekely to help the Tigers move on.
UNCW's Christina Lee was locked in a 2 1/2 hour battle with Clemson All-American Josipa Bek when the match was halted. Lee won the first set, 6-0, before Bek won, 6-3, in the second and was leading, 4-3, when the match was called.
Clemson advanced to the Elite Eight of the event last season after defeating UCLA, 4-3, in the Sweet Sixteen.
UNCW, the No. 4 seed, now faces 46th-ranked Kansas State, a 4-1 loser to No. 59 Purdue, Sunday at 9 a.m. in the consolation match. The Seahawks then return to Wilmington to train for their home opener on Feb. 11 against North Florida.
Clemson will battle Purdue at 1 p.m. Sunday for the opportunity to advance to the Sweet 16 Round in Charlottesville, Va., Feb. 10-12.
