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No. 18 Carolina Outlasts No. 26 Virginia, 4-3
April 5, 2009 | Women's Tennis
April 5, 2009
CHAPEL HILL --- No. 18 North Carolina rebounded from losing the doubles point and posted a dramatic 4-3 win over No. 26 Virginia Sunday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The two teams traded blows for more than four and a half hours before Meg Fanjoy clinched the victory with a marathon 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 win over Karoline Steiro at No. 6 singles.
Carolina (16-7, 6-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) dropped two of three doubles matches to fall behind 1-0 for just the third time in 23 dual matches this season. Sanaz Marand and Haley Hemm opened the afternoon with an 8-2 win at No. 3, but Virginia (10-8, 3-6 ACC) would post matching 8-5 victories at the top two positions to secure the point and give the Cavaliers the early advantage.
For the second time in as many days it was No. 61 Marand first off in singles with a dominating victory. The Katy, Texas, junior quickly dispatched No. 88 Jennifer Stevens at No. 2, 6-1, 6-3, evening the match at 1.
The teams would trade straight-set victories in the middle of the lineup to make it 2-1 UVa, as Austin Smith was victorious at No. 3 for the Tar Heels while Lindsey Hardenbergh took care of business for the Wahoos at No. 4, setting up a trio of three-set thrillers to decide it.
No. 63 Katrina Tsang shook off a slow start at the top position to rally past No. 79 Emily Fraser, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, and put UNC ahead for the first time. Claire Bartlett then outlasted Laura Reichert at No. 5, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 to even the match and set up Fanjoy's heroics.
Fanjoy and Steiro were even most of the afternoon, exchanging deep ground strokes in lenghty points throughout the match. After splitting the sets, the two entered into a third set that would push the match beyond the three hour mark. Neither player could hold serve consistently in the final set, the players trading breaks until Fanjoy had the first opportunity to serve out the match at 5-4.
After consecutive errors by Steiro made it 30-love, Fanjoy seemed poised to close out the win. But the UVa freshman responded with yet another break to make it 5-all. Fanjoy would respond, however, and quickly break back for another shot at serving for the victory.
Playing in one of the last home matches of her career, the Statesville, N.C., senior finally put the showdown to bed, serving out the victory to improve to 4-1 in league play and secure a key ACC win for the Tar Heels.
Carolina will conclude the regular season at home next weekend by hosting a pair of league powers. UNC welcomes No. 6 Georgia Tech on April 10 and No. 11 Clemson on April 11. Both matches are set to begin at 1 p.m.
No. 18 North Carolina 4, No. 26 Virginia 3
Doubles
1. Maggie Yahner/Rales (VA) def. No. 61 Smith/Tsang, 8-5
2. Stevens/Bartlett (VA) def. Reichert/Fanjoy, 8-5
3. Marand/Haley Hemm (NC) def. Fraser/Vaez, 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. No. 63 Katrina Tsang (NC) def. No. 79 Emily Fraser, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 61 Sanaz Marand (NC) def. No. 88 Jennifer Stevens, 6-1, 6-3
3. Austin Smith (NC) def. Amanda Rales, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
4. Lindsey Hardenbergh (VA) def. Jelena Durisic, 6-1, 7-5
5. Claire Bartlett (VA) def. Laura Reichert, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
6. Meg Fanjoy (NC) def. Karoline Steiro, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5, 6*
Players Mentioned
