North Carolina
Texas A&M
No. 9 UNC Women's Tennis Beats No. 19 Texas A&M 5-2
February 21, 2004 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 21, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill women's tennis team, ranked ninth in the nation, took No. 19 Texas A&M 5-2 on Saturday at the Cone-Kenefield Tennis Center. The Tar Heels, 8-1 on the season, won the doubles point and four of the singles matches. TAMU goes to 3-5.
"I told the ladies how excited I am for our fans to get to see the effort we have been giving," said Head Coach Brian Kalbas. "They have played some resilient tennis and really fought hard to win some close matches. This win was a great team effort."
In doubles play, the Tar Heels' No. 1 and 3 seeds both won close matches at 9-7 to give UNC the doubles point. At the one spot, juniors Aniela Mojzis and Kendall Cline, ranked No. 41 nationally, came from behind to beat Texas A&M's Lauren Walker and Roberta Spencer. The Tar Heels were down 3-6 at one point, but fought back to a seven-all tie. Mojzis and Cline went on to win back-to-back wins and served out for the win.
With UNC senior Lee Bairos and freshman Jenna Long going down to Jessica Roland and Nicki Mechem 8-3, the No. 3 seed was the deciding match for the doubles point.
Senior Kendrick Bunn and freshman Caitlin Collins paired up for UNC against Helga Vieira and Anna Lubinsky for TAMU. While Mojzis and Cline were tied at seven all, so were Bunn and Collins. The third-seeded pair also went on to get back-to-back wins for the Tar Heels' second 9-7 doubles victory.
In singles play, Bunn, at the No. 6 seed, clinched the match for UNC by beating Lubinsky 7-6(5), 7-6(4). Bunn was down 5-0 in the first set, but came back to win the two tiebreaks for the individual win and for an UNC 4-2 lead.
No. 5 seed Cline finished her match first with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Mechem. Freshman Sara Anundsen also had a two-set win 6-4, 6-2 over TAMU's Walker at the fourth seed.
Collins finished up the day with a come-from-behind win against Spencer at the third seed. After losing the first set 6-4, Collins took the next two 6-3 and 7-6(4).
The Tar Heels will play No. 7 Northwestern on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. All "Friends of Carolina Tennis" are invited to a coffee social at the tennis center from noon to 1 p.m. before the match.
No. 9 UNC 5, No. 19 TAMU 2
Doubles: Point goes to UNC
1. No. 41 Mojzis/Cline (UNC) def. Walker/Spencer (TAMU), 9-7
2. Roland/Mechem (TAMU) def. Bairos/Long (UNC), 8-3
3. Bunn/Collins (UNC) def. Vieira/Lubinsky (TAMU), 9-7
Singles
1. No. 26 Jessica Roland (TAMU) def. No. 34 Aniela Mojzis (UNC), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Helga Vieira (TAMU) def. Lee Bairos (UNC), 7-5, 6-4
3. No. 98 Caitlin Collins (UNC) def. Roberta Spencer (TAMU), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)
4. No. 65 Sara Anundsen (UNC) def. Lauren Walker (TAMU), 6-4, 6-2
5. Kendall Cline (UNC) def. Nicki Mechem (TAMU), 6-4, 6-0
6. Kendrick Bunn (UNC) def. Anna Lubinsky (TAMU), 7-6(5), 7-6(4)
Players Mentioned
