University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
No. 4 Tar Heels Edge No. 37 Maryland
April 1, 2006 | Women's Tennis
April 1, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina women's tennis team defeated the Maryland Terrapins Saturday in tough competition at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill. In a battle that came down to the last match, the Tar Heels edged the Terrapins, 4-3. Senior Tanja Markovic clinched the match for North Carolina at the six seed over Julia Graca. The No. 4 Tar Heels, according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, now stand at 21-3 on the season and 5-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while the No. 37 Terrapins dropped to 9-8, 2-4.
Carolina took a 1-0 lead over Maryland winning at one and three in doubles competition. Clinching the doubles point at the one seed was the No. 6 Tar Heel duo of Sara Anundsen and Jenna Long. Facing off against the 13th-ranked Ramona But and Marianne Baker, Anundsen and Long gained their 28th doubles win with the 8-3 victory. At the three seed, Tanja Markovic and Austin Smith downed Neda Mihneva and Julia Graca, 8-4, improving the duo's record to 3-0 on the dual season. Caitlin Collins and Laura Reichert faced a tough battle at the two seed. Michal Amir and Jennifer Dent came back from a 6-3 deficit to beat Collins and Reichert, 8-7 (0).
Junior Sara Anundsen took the Tar Heel lead to 2-0 after cruising past Veronika Subertova at the three seed, 6-2, 6-1. But the Terrapins quickly came back from a 2-0 deficit and took the lead 3-2, after winning singles matches at the one, five and two seeds. Tar Heels No. 32 Jenna Long, Laura Reichert and No. 58 Caitlin Collins fell to No. 59 Ramona But, Michal Amir and No. 91 Marianne Baker, respectively. Baker's win over Collins ended Collins' seven-game win streak on hand.
The match came down to battles at the four and six seeds. Freshman Austin Smith faced Jennifer Dent at the four seed, defeating Dent in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Smith's win tied the match at four-all. Senior Tanja Markovic clinched the match at the six seed, defeating Julia Graca, 7-6 (6), 6-2, giving Carolina a 4-3 win over Maryland.
"I am pleased with the team's performance," said head coach Brian Kalbas. "Every match in the conference is tough. It is great for Tanja [Markovic] to clinch the match because she has the confidence and experience. I was pleased to see Austin [Smith] and Sara [Anundsen] step it up after they both lost their matches against Wake Forest. It was a team effort and we have the type of team that can have any player step it up when we need them to."
The Tar Heels continue weekend ACC action Sunday, April 2 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, hosting No. 64 Boston College. The match is free and open to the public.
No. 4 North Carolina 3, No. 37 Maryland 3
Doubles:
1. No. 6 Sara Anundsen/Jenna Long (UNC) d. No. 13 Ramona But/Marianne Baker (MD) 8-3
2. Michal Amir/Jennifer Dent (MD) d. Caitlin Collins/Laura Reichert (UNC) 8-7 (0)
3. Tanja Markovic/Austin Smith (UNC) d. Neda Mihneva/Julia Graca (MD) 8-4
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
1. No. 59 Ramona But (MD) d. No. 32 Jenna Long (UNC) 6-1, 7-6 (5)
2. No. 91 Marianne Baker (MD) d. No. 58 Caitlin Collins (UNC) 7-5, 6-2
3. No. 95 Sara Anundsen (UNC) d. Veronika Subertova (MD) 6-2, 6-1
4. Austin Smith (UNC) d. Jennifer Dent (MD) 6-4, 6-4
5. Michal Amir (MD) d. Laura Reichert (UNC) 6-3, 6-1
6. Tanja Markovic (UNC) d. Julia Graca (MD) 7-6 (6), 6-2 *
Order of finish: 3, 1, 5, 2, 4, 6
* Clinched the match
Players Mentioned
