The NC State women’s tennis team closed out the season this past Sunday and is now preparing for the first game of the ACC tournament.
The Wolfpack (16-13, 7-7 ACC) will face Clemson (13-12, 6-8 ACC) this Thursday at Cary Tennis Park, just 20 minutes away from the Wolfpack’s home court.
Both teams dropped their last games of the season, with NC State losing a close one, 4-3, to Syracuse, while Clemson was swept by Georgia Tech, 4-0. Even with the late-season loss, both teams will receive a first-round bye as the Wolfpack will be the eight-seed, and the Tigers the nine-seed.
Last time the teams met it came down to the wire with the Tigers snagging a 4-3 victory. The Wolfpack was able to take the doubles point, but couldn’t convert in singles play, which has been a trend all year.
The doubles have been strong with the team of sophomore Anna Rogers and junior Claudia Wiktorin having gone 14-6 on court one doubles, and sophomore Adriana Reami and junior Amanda Rebol putting together a 14-5 record on court two. Currently Reami and Rebol are on a three-match win streak and will be looking to keep the momentum going against a Clemson team that they’ve already defeated once this year.
Singles play is where the Wolfpack will have to focus. If it gets the doubles point, then the Pack will need three singles victories to secure a team win.
The main matchup will be on court one between Rogers, who is currently ranked No. 89, and No. 23 Marie Leduc. In a close first matchup, Leduc defeated Rogers 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on a neutral court in Charlotte. Rogers will be looking forward to taking advantage of the quasi home court advantage during the tournament and prove her place atop the ACC’s best players.
The Wolfpack will look to take advantage of the experience on court two as Reami has been tearing it up at that position recently. She has gone 7-3 in her last 10 matches and has won her last four in a row. The Miami native has found her rhythm and will look to get revenge against one of the few opponents who have defeated her.
Both Reami and Rogers have been on this stage before, but this tournament is a new experience for freshman Taylor Bridges. After starting the season on court six, Bridges has climbed the ladder for the Wolfpack, playing court three since the end of March. Bridges set the mark for the most ACC singles wins recorded in one season in program history and will look to finish the season strong with a victory in the ACC tournament.
The Wolfpack will be counting on those three to provide the energy and offensive firepower to will the Pack to a victory.
The match will take place at the Cary Tennis Park Thursday at 9 a.m. with the winner moving on to play the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils on Friday.
