North Carolina
Illinois
Women's Tennis Bounces Back With 6-1 Victory
March 2, 2002 | Women's Tennis
March 2, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After losing two consecutive matches to top-20 teams on the road, the Tar Heels returned to their winning ways at home Saturday to improve their record to 8-3 with a 6-1 victory over 35th-ranked Illinois.
The 13th-ranked Tar Heels won with ease, winning all three doubles matches and scoring three singles victories in straight sets. Carolina's Julie Rotondi, who defeated Tiffany Eklov 6-1, 6-2, looks at her personal victory and the team's win as setting the Tar Heels back on track after consecutive losses to Kentucky and Tennessee.
"It's a load off my chest," she said. "It was a good win that will hopefully get us in the right direction after last weekend."
Rotondi's doubles partner, Kate Pinchbeck, was once again the strongest player on the court. Pinchbeck defeated Cynthya Goulet at flight to, 6-1, 6-1 to improve her perfect singles record to 11-0 on the season. Pinchbeck and Rotondi also combined to defeat Goulet and Michelle Webb 8-3 in doubles.
Pinchbeck has been head and shoulders above her competition all season, winning all but one of her matches in straight sets. Pinchbeck says she has taken a calmer attitude on the court this spring that puts her at ease on the court.
"I've really not been getting as angry on the court as I did in the fall," she said. "I used to get really angry and that was detrimental to my tennis."
Lee Bairos, who is also having an exceptional season, defeated Kate Boomershine 6-0, 6-3 at flight five to improve her record to 9-1.
Head Coach Jen Callen looks to the team's more aggressive play today as the catalyst for the win.
"They could have played more aggressive last week and they did today, " Callen said. "Sometimes you have to take chances to win, and that's exactly what we did today."
The 8-3 Tar Heels don't have much time to enjoy the victory as they will get back on the court Sunday at 1 p.m. to face Marshall.
Singles:
1) Marlene Mejia d. Jennifer McGaffigan, 6-0, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (8)
2) Kate Pinchbeck d. Cynthya Goulet, 6-1, 6-1
3) Julie Rotondi d. Tiffany Eklov, 6-1, 6-2
4) Eva Choe d. Aniela Mojzis, 6-2, 6-1
5) Lee Bairos d. Kate Boomershine, 6-0, 6-3
6) Kendall Cline d. Eldina Fazlic, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (17)
Doubles:
1) Pinchbeck/Rotondi d. Webb/Goulet, 8-3
2) Mejia/Bairos d. McGaffigan/Choe, 8-5
3) Mojzis/Cline d. Eklov/Boomershine, 8-5
