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Tennessee Women's Tennis Knocks Out Carolina 4-3 In NCAA Second Round
May 15, 2004 | Women's Tennis
May 15, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina women's tennis team lost the three-hour and forty-five minute battle to Tennessee 4-3 on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. After losing the doubles point, #15 Carolina (20-9) fought back to a three-all tie when Lady Volunteer Ashley Robards clinched the win with a three-set victory over Caitlin Collins.
"I'm really proud of the team for the effort and class it displayed throughout this year," said UNC Head Coach Brian Kalbas. "Tennessee is well coached, and they deserve all the credit for playing well."
Collins' No. 3 match was the last match left between the 14th-seeded Tar Heels and Lady Volunteers. After a hard fight, the freshman fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Collins finished 16-18 on the season.
In other singles play, Tar Heel freshman Sara Anundsen defeated Majen Immink 5-4, 6-2 for North Carolina's first point of the match. Anundsen, who played the No. 5 seed, added to her team-high record of victories with a 29-9 record.
UNC junior Aniela Mojzis, ranked 21st nationally, avenged her fall season loss to #37 Tammy Encina in three sets at the top spot, 6-2, 6-7(8), 7-5. Mojzis moves on to 27-14 for the Tar Heels and will continue her season as an individual in singles for the tournament on May 24 in Athens, Ga.
Junior Kendall Cline won her fourth-seed match 7-6(4), 7-5 over Blakeley Griffith to give UNC its third point. Cline moved to 21-14 in singles.
Senior and captain Lee Bairos finished the season with a hard-fought loss to #55 Sabita Maharaj 6-4, 6-2. Carolina's No. 2 seeded-player dropped to 15-20.
UNC's Kendrick Bunn, who also graduated on May 9 with Bairos, lost to Tennessee's Victoria Jones 6-0, 6-1. Bunn finished the season at 11-7 in singles play.
In the doubles contest that started the match, Tennessee's Encina and Immink upset Carolina's 19th-ranked duo, juniors Mojzis and Cline 8-6 at the No. 1 seed. Mojzis and Cline will appear in the NCAA individual tournament for doubles with an at-large bid in the South region. The pair drops to 25-11 overall.
"Both Aniela and Kendall are team players," said Kalbas. "They have an opportunity to do really well at the NCAA in Athens."
To clinch the doubles point for the Lady Volunteers, Breanna Kray and Robards defeated seniors Bairos and Bunn 8-5 at the No. 2 seed. Bairos and Bunn fall to 10-3 on the season.
In the third-seeded match, freshmen Anundsen and Jenna Long led 7-6 over Griffith and Maharaj when play was suspended.
Carolina dropped to 8-6 in the NCAA Tournament and lost for the first time in the tournament when playing at home.
With the win, #24 Tennessee (15-13) advances to the Round of 16 for the eighth straight year. UT, a 17-34 seed, will travel to Athens, Ga., to begin play on May 20.
#24 Tennessee 4, #15 UNC 3
Singles
1. #21 Aniela Mojzis (UNC) def. #37 Tammy Encina (UT) 6-2, 6-7(8), 7-5
2. #55 Sabita Maharaj (UT) def. Lee Bairos (UNC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Ashley Robards (UT) def. Caitlin Collins (UNC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Kendall Cline (UNC) def. Blakeley Griffith (UT) 7-6(4), 7-5
5. Sara Anundsen (UNC) def. Majen Immink (UT) 6-4, 6-2
6. Victoria Jones (UT) def. Kendrick Bunn (UNC) 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: #6, #5, #2, #1, #4, #3
Doubles (Point to Tennessee)
1. Encina/Immink (UT) def. #19 Mojzis/Cline 8-6
2. Breanna Kray/Robards (UT) def. Bairos/Bunn (UNC) 8-5
3. Anundsen/Jenna Long (UNC) led Griffith/Maharaj (UT) 7-6
Order of finish: #1, #2
Players Mentioned
