North Carolina
Florida
No. 3 Florida Stops No. 5 Tar Heels
March 15, 2004 | Women's Tennis
March 15, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The fith-ranked North Carolina women's tennis team fell to the reigning national champions, the third-ranked Florida Gators, 7-0 Monday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. With the win, Florida improves to 11-0 and pushes its winning steak to 28 consecutive matches. The Gators have swept all but one of their opponents this season. Carolina moves to 13-3 overall and begins Atlantic Coast Conference play Sunday, March 21 as it travels to face No. 6 Duke.
"The score didn't indicate the level of difference between the two teams," North Carolina Head Coach Brian Kalbas said. "I was very pleased at how hungry we were in doubles. The doubles point could have gone either way."
The Tar Heels came out strong in doubles play as all three matches went the distance. At the No. 1 seed, the UNC tandem of Aniela Mojzis and Kendall Cline, ranked 29th nationally, made a comeback late in the set, but fell to the ninth-ranked duo of Alexis Gordon and Julie Rotondi, 6-8.
To secure the doubles point, Florida's Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes, ranked 34th, defeated Kendrick Bunn and Caitlin Collins 8-5. Magley and Reyes have posted a 51-14 career record together. Their win today moves them into a tie for third all-time in Florida history with 51 victories.
North Carolina's Lee Bairos and Jenna Long fought hard, but couldn't come away with the victory as the Gators' Boglarka Berecz and Nina Suvak won 9-8 (5) at the No. 3 seed.
In singles play, #81 Cline took her match against #58 Reyes to a tiebreak in the first set, but fell 6-7, 2-6 playing at the No. 3 seed. Cline moves to 11-3 in dual match play.
At the No. 1 and 2 seeds, Florida also had two top-ranked players in Gordon and Reyes. At the No. 1 seed, Gordon, ranked second in the nation, defeated UNC's Mojzis, 6-3, 6-3. At the No. 2 seed, #26 Magley took a 6-1, 6-1 win over Bairos.
North Carolina is now 0-5 all-time against Florida.
"We've had a tough stretch having to play Florida right after spring break," Coach Kalbas said. "But I'm very excited to have the opportunity to play Duke."
The Tar Heels play their first conference match when they travel to Duke for a critical matchup with the Blue Devils on Sunday, March 21. The match begins at 1 p.m. and will be played at Ambler Tennis Stadium in Durham, N.C.
No. 3 Florida 7, No. 5 North Carolina 0
Singles
1. #2 Alexis Gordon (UF) def. #16 Aniela Mojzis (UNC) 6-3, 6-3
2. #26 Jennifer Magley (UF) def. Lee Bairos (UNC) 6-1, 6-1
3. #58 Zerene Reyes (UF) def. #81 Kendall Cline (UNC) 7-6, 6-2
4. Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Sara Anundsen (UNC) 6-2, 6-2
5. Lindsay Dawaf (UF) def. Kendrick Bunn (UNC) 6-1, 6-3
6. Nina Suvak (UF) def. Jenna Long (UNC) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles (Point to Florida)
1. #9 Gordon/Rotondi (UF) def. #29 Mojzis/Cline (UNC) 8-6
2. #34 Magley/Reyes (UF) def. Bunn/Caitlin Collins (UNC) 8-5
3. Berecz/Suvak (UF) def. Bairos/Long (UNC) 9-8(3)
Players Mentioned
