North Carolina
Virginia Tech
North Carolina Downs Virginia Tech, 6-1
March 25, 2006 | Women's Tennis
March 25, 2006
LACKSBURG, VA. - The No. 5 North Carolina women's tennis team, ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, gained its third Atlantic Coast Conference win on Saturday, with a 6-1 win over No. 60 Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels move to 18-3, 3-1, while the Hokies move to 10-6, 0-4. Junior Sara Anundsen clinched the match for the Tar Heels with a 7-6, 6-2 win over JJ Larson at the three seed.
For the seventh time in school history, the Tar Heels and Hokies faced off in an ACC battle. North Carolina took a 1-0 lead over Virginia Tech, winning at two of three doubles seeds. Ranked 6th in the nation, Sara Anundsen and Jenna Long cruised past No. 40 Anat Elazari and Jennifer Larson. The duo earned its 25th win of the season. The freshmen duo of Meg Fanjoy and Austin Smith also gained its 25th win with a 9-7 victory over Ashley James and Jessica Long. The two Tar Heel pairs lead North Carolina in doubles wins this season.
At the two seed, Caitlin Collins and Tanja Markovic battled competitively with No. 60 Inga Beerman and Abbey Walker. Taking the match into a tie-break, Collins and Markovic dropped their seventh match of the season, with a 9-8 (7-5) loss.
Winning the first three singles matches, the Tar Heels clinched the match over Virginia Tech, 4-0. Senior Tanja Markovic took the score to 2-0 with a six seed win over Abbey Walker. Markovic gained her 16th victory with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Walker. Caitlin Collins, ranked 58th in the nation, improved her season record to 21-11 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Anat Elazari at the two seed, moving the Tar Heels to 3-0 over the Hokies. Collins continued her win streak, earning her fifth singles win in a row.
Clinching the match at the four seed was junior Sara Anundsen. Battling it out with Hokie JJ Larson, Anundsen moved her season record to 19-8 with at 7-6, 6-2 win over Larson. No. 32 Jenna Long took on No. 121 Inga Beerman at the one seed. Beerman upset Long, with a 6-3, 7-5 victory. The match marked Long's ninth loss of the season. Freshman Austin Smith gained Carolina's fifth point over Virginia Tech, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ashley James at the four seed. Smith improved her season record to 25-8 with the win. Earning the sixth point for the Tar Heels at the five seed was freshman Laura Reichert. Reichert gained her 19th win with the 6-2, 7-5 victory over Jessica Long.
The Tar Heels continue their ACC play with a match-up over No. 43 Virginia March 26. The match is slated to begin Sunday at 12 p.m.
No. 5 North Carolina 6, No. 60 Virginia Tech 1
Doubles:
1. No. 6 Sara Anundsen/Jenna Long (UNC) d. No. 40 Anat Elazari/Jennifer Larson (VT) 8-4
2. No. 60 Inga Beerman/Abbey Walker (VT) d. Caitlin Collins/Tanja Markovic (UNC) 9-8 (7-5)
3. No. 45 Meg Fanjoy/Austin Smith (UNC) d. Ashley James/Jessica Long (VT) 9-7
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles:
1. No 121 Inga Beerman (VT) d. No. 32 Jenna Long (UNC) 6-3, 7-5
2. No. 58 Caitlin Collins (UNC) d. Anat Elazari (VT) 6-3, 6-1
3. No. 95 Sara Anundsen (UNC) d. JJ Larson (VT) 7-6, 6-2 *
4. Austin Smith (UNC) d. Ashley James (VT) 6-3, 6-2
5. Laura Reichert (UNC) d. Jessica Long (VT) 6-2, 7-5
6. Tanja Markovic (UNC) d. Abbey Walker (VT) 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish: 6, 2, 3, 1, 4, 5
* Clinched the match
Players Mentioned
