Caroline McGinley clinches as No. 23 SMU women’s tennis defeats Virginia Tech 4-1 for its first ACC win under Kelsey McKenna.
If there were any nerves about SMU women’s tennis stepping into ACC play, they didn’t show up in Blacksburg.
No. 23 SMU handled Virginia Tech 4-1 on Friday, securing the program’s first ACC victory under head coach Kelsey McKenna and extending its winning streak to five matches. The Mustangs are now 7-1 overall and building serious early-season momentum in conference competition.
The tone was set immediately in doubles - as it has been all year.
SMU improved to a perfect 8-0 in doubles points this season, sweeping all three courts against the Hokies.
Sophie Llewellyn and Natalie Stasny rolled to a 6-2 win, while Caroline McGinley and Amelie Van Impe stayed unbeaten as a pairing at 5-0 with a 6-2 victory on court one.
Addison Comiskey and Ellie Mireles capped the sweep with a 6-3 decision, marking their third straight win together. As a team, the Mustangs now boast a dominant 17-2 combined doubles record.
In singles, Comiskey struck first, defeating Kirsten Woods 6-4, 6-2 on court six to stretch the lead. No. 66 Sophie Llewellyn followed with a polished 6-2, 7-5 performance on court two, showcasing why she remains one of SMU’s most reliable anchors.
Virginia Tech grabbed its lone point on court four, but any hope of a comeback was short-lived.
Junior Caroline McGinley slammed the door shut with a gritty 6-4, 7-5 win on court three, sealing the match and improving to 6-0 in singles this season.
She’s been flawless so far - and Friday’s clincher only added to her growing reputation as the Mustangs’ closer.
Next up, SMU heads to Charlottesville to face No. 15 Virginia, another major ACC test. If the Mustangs continue controlling doubles and getting clutch singles from McGinley and Llewellyn, they won’t just compete ... they’ll contend.