North Carolina
Texas
No. 4 Tar Heels Drop Thriller To No. 21 Texas, 4-3
January 21, 2012 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 21, 2012
FLUSHING, N.Y. --- No. 4 North Carolina rallied from 3-1 down to tie the match but fell to No. 21 Texas, 4-3, in a thrilling dual Saturday evening at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Shinann Featherston and Zoe De Bruycker won three-setters to even the score at 3 but Aeriel Ellis outlasted Lauren McHale in a third-set tiebreak at the top position to secure the win for the Longhorns.
The margin was razor-thin in doubles as well, with Carolina (2-1) needing a tiebreak on court two to take the point. After the two teams split at No. 1 and No. 3, the day's opening point came down to the match between De Bruycker and Laura Slater and Texas' Ellis and Cierra Gaytan-Leach. The Tar Heel duo was up to the task in the extra frame, winning the tiebreak, 7-3, and the match, 9-8.
Despite the tight loss, it was Texas (1-0) that took control early in singles. Elizabeth Begley and Lina Padegimaite grabbed straight-set victories at positions five and six to quickly give the Longhorns a 2-1 advantage.
Gaytan-Leach pushed the UT lead to 3-1 by topping Caroline Price in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, before the thrilling conclusion.
No. 44 De Bruycker split sets with No. 119 Noel Scott on court two before winning the deciding third set to take the match, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. Featherston was pushed to a third-set tiebreak on court three before finishing off Krista Damico, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5), to set up the drama at the top of the lineup.
It was No. 16 McHale who had the first match point at 7-6 in the tiebreak, but Ellis spoiled that opportunity and extended the match. The 47th-ranked junior would capitalize on her second match point to get the victory, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (8), and give Texas an upset victory.
Carolina faces a quick turnaround as the Tar Heels will play a second match at the National Tennis Center Sunday when they face Tennessee at 3 p.m. The No. 18 Lady Vols fell to No. 9 Virginia Saturday by a 4-3 margin.
No. 21 Texas 4, No. 4 North Carolina 3
Doubles
1. Lauren McHale/Shinann Featherston (UNC) def. Lina Padegimaite/Noel Scott (UT), 8-5
2. #43 Laura Slater/Zoe De Bruycker (UNC) def. Aeriel Ellis/Cierra Gaytan-Leach (UT), 9-8 (3)
3. Krista Damico/Alex Martin (UT) def. Haley Hemm/Caroline Price (UNC), 8-6
Singles
1 #47 Aeriel Ellis (UT) def. #16 Lauren McHale (UNC), 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (8)
2 #44 Zoe De Bruycker (UNC) def. #119 Noel Scott (UT), 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
3 Shinann Featherston (UNC) def. Krista Damico (UT), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5)
4 Cierra Gaytan-Leach (UT) def. #55 Caroline Price (UNC), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
5 Lina Padegimaite (UT) def. Gina Suarez-Malaguti (UNC), 6-2, 7-5
6 Elizabeth Begley (UT) def. Haley Hemm (UNC), 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
Players Mentioned
