Yellow Jackets Make History

Georgia tech defeats UCLA, 4-2, for school's first team championship

May 23, 2007

By Anthony Dasher

Special to CSTV.com

 

ATHENS, Ga. - Tuesday proved to be an historic night for the Georgia Tech women's tennis team.

 

Not only did the No. 3 Yellow Jackets win the program's first national crown by edging No. 12 UCLA, 4-2, but the title was also the first NCAA team championship in school history as well.

 


 

 

"That's something we really weren't aware of coming in, but now that we did it, I think it's pretty cool," Tech's Kristi Miller said. "National Champions...I don't think many people would have believed this when we started the year."

 

Prior to Tuesday, Georgia Tech had never won a team championship in any sport. The Tech football program has won four national championships (1990, 1952, 1928 and 1917) via wire service polls, and Yellow Jacket athletes have captured numerous NCAA individual titles in track and field and golf.

 

Two other Yellow Jacket squads played for national championships. The men's basketball team fell to Connecticut, 82-73, in the 2004 NCAA championship game, and the baseball team lost to Oklahoma, 13-5, in the 1994 College World Series championship game.

 

"I don't know what to say about these girls except to say they're incredible," Georgia Tech coach Bryan Shelton said. "What an incredible match. They worked so incredibly hard, and to win the championship is really beyond description right now."

 

Even more ironic for the Yellow Jackets was that the victory came at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, the home court for the arch-rival Georgia Bulldogs.

 

"That's a good little side note, I guess," Amanda Craddock said. "But it doesn't really matter. We would have wanted to win a championship wherever we played."

 

It wasn't easy.

 

Georgia Tech (29-4) had to fight from an early 1-0 hole after dropping the doubles point, before winning four of the five completed singles matches to clinch the crown.

 

Kristi Miller and Amanda McDowell both picked up straight set victories against the respective duo of Riza Zalameda and Ashley Joelson, but it took a pair of three-set marathon wins by Alison Silverio and Christy Striplin to finally put the Bruins away.

 

Striplin traveled the most difficult road to victory. Tech's No. 5 singles player dropped the first set, 4-6, to UCLA's Alex McGoodwin but bounced back strong to win 6-1, 6-2.

 

"I'm not sure what exactly it was, but I just didn't get off to a good start," Striplin said. "But once I got in my groove, I didn't lose it."

 

For UCLA (21-8), the loss was a bitter pill to have to swallow.

 

"We lost a tough battle today," UCLA coach Stella Sampras Webster said. "We knew Georgia Tech would be very strong in singles. After we won the doubles, I was extremely happy and felt like we could win three singles matches.

"I have to give Alison [Silverio] credit. Tracy [Lin] did not play poorly. Silverio just won that match.

 

"We can take some great memories from this tournament," added Sampras. "I don't think we had a letdown after yesterday's win [over Stanford]. Georgia Tech just beat us."

 

Shelton hopes the title won't be his last.

 

When Shelton arrived in Atlanta eight years ago, Georgia Tech's tennis program barely resembled the powerhouse it has become.

 

But after several outstanding recruiting years, the Jackets finally made Shelton's efforts pay off.

 

"I love winning," Shelton said. "For us to get the first [championship] for Georgia Tech is special to me because I went to school there. Georgia Tech always has a special place in my heart, and it's nice to go and contribute in a positive way.

 

"I've been here eight years and to gain some perspective on how difficult it is to build a program I spoke with people like Dan Magill [former Georgia tennis coach and tennis facility namesake]. I heard how long it took him just to win his first SEC title. Building a program takes a lot of people working together - not just one."

 

Georgia Tech 4, UCLA 2

 

Doubles

Riza Zalameda-Yasmin Schmack (UCLA) def. Kristi Miller-Whitney McCray (GT) 8-3; Ashley Joelson-Alex McGoodwin (UCLA) def. Amanda Craddock-Alison Silverio (GT0 8-3; Tarryn Rudman-Kirsten Flower (GT) led Elizabeth Lumpkin-Stephanie Wetmore (UCLA) 6-2 when play was suspended.

 

Singles

Kristi Miller (GT) def. Riza Zalameda (UCLA) 6-3, 7-6 (3); Alison Silverio

(GT) def. Tracy Lin (UCLA) 7-5, 5-7, 6-1; Yasmin Schnack (UCLA) def. Amanda Craddock (GT) 6-3, 6-1; Amanda McDowell (GT) def. Ashley Joelson (UCLA) 6-1, 6-0; Christy Striplin (GT) def. Alex McGoodwin (UCLA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; Elizabeth Lumpkin (UCLA) led Tarryn Rudman 2-6, 6-3, 5-2 when play was suspended.