University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
BYU
Tar Heel Women's Tennis Upsets No. 18 BYU, 5-4
June 21, 1999 | Women's Tennis
February 26, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina women's tennis team upset the 18th-ranked Cougars of Bringham Young University 5-4 Saturday, at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The last time Carolina beat a Top 25 team was February 20, 1993 against #21 Alabama. According to UNC Sports Information records dating back to 1985, the Tar Heels have never beaten a Top 20 team.
"Hopefully this is just the beginning of a lot of good things for our program," said UNC head coach Roland Thornqvist, who is in his first year as the Tar Heel head mentor.
"The bottom have of our lineup came through to provide us with the victory. The women played so mentally tough tonight. I was so proud of them. The energy and the excitement level were amazing."
After dropping the #1 and #2 singles matches to BYU, the bottom half of UNC's singles lineup stepped up to sweep victories at #3 through #6. Carolina sophomore Courtney Zalinski handidly defeated Khushchehr Italia 6-1, 6-1 at #4. Cena Hackler earned a point for the Tar Heels at #6 by defeating BYU's Joti Richardson 6-2, 6-4.
At #5 singles, Junior Jeni Burnette defeated BYU's Tara Ferguson in three sets. After losing the first set 4-6, Burnette came back to win two straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
Freshman Caroline Hill's three set victory over Kim Kelly at #3 gave the Heels a 4-3 lead in singles and the momentum to go into doubles play. After winning the first set 6-3, Hill lost to Kelly in a second set tie-breaker 6-7. The Chapel Hill native fought off four match points in the third set tie-breaker to seal her 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 victory. The match was the longest of the night.
Hill continued her momentous play in doubles action, where she faced Kelly again in #2 doubles. Hill and partner Courtney Zalinski clinched the Tar Heel upset with a win over Kelly and Brooke Leavers 8-4. BYU's Gee Gee Garvin and Joti Richardson defeated UNC's #1 doubles team of Jessica Zaganczyk and Cena Hackler 9-8 (6). Khuschchehr Italia and Smith finished out the match by defeating Jessica Burnette and Sarah Hawkins of UNC 8-4 at #3.
The victory moves the Tar Heel's record to a 3-1 record, while BYU falls to 2-5. The Tar Heels next match is Sunday at 1 p.m., where they will face the Volunteers of Tennessee at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
Singles
1. Gee Gee Garvin (BYU) d. Jessica Zaganczyk 6-3, 7-5 2. Brooke Leavens (BYU) d. Sarah Hawkins 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 3. Caroline Hill (UNC) d. Kim Kelly 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 4. Courtney Zalinski (UNC) d. Khuschchehr Italiia 6-1, 6-1 5. Jeni Burnette (UNC) d. Tara Furguson 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 6. Cena Hackler (UNC) d. Joti Richardson 6-2, 6-4Doubles
1. Garvin/Richardson (BYU) d. Zaganczyk/Hackler 9-8 (6) 2. Hill/Zalinski (UNC) d. Kelly/Leavend 8-4 3. Italia/Shari Smith (BYU) d. Sarah Hawkins/Burnette 8-4
