North Carolina
Georgia
UNC Wins 2nd National Indoor Title
February 9, 2015 | Women's Tennis
Senior Caroline Price, who came so close to giving UNC the NCAA title last May, earned the winning point on court three, outlasting Kennedy Shaffer in three sets - 6-1, 2-6, 7-5. Tied 40-40, Price broke Shaffer when her forehand came up short by hitting the net, setting off a jubilant celebration for the Tar Heels.
“They're just amazing fighters,” said North Carolina head coach Brian Kalbas. “It looked like we were in control and then Georgia turned it around and it looked like we were in trouble in some spots. You could see the momentum switching. Caroline and Jamie (Loeb) and everybody just kept fighting and I'm just real proud of the effort. Fourth day, everybody's tired. It's just amazing to see what people can do when they push themselves to the limit.”
North Carolina (9-0) led 3-0 after straight-set victories from Hayley Carter and Whitney Kay on courts two and four, respectively, displaying the same form that helped the Tar Heels cruise into the finals with three lopsided victories on consecutive days over Oklahoma State, Miami and second-seeded Florida.
Carter rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ellen Perez, while Kay, the junior that clinched the 2013 indoor title over UCLA, earned a 6-4, 6-3 win on Monday against Silvia Garcia.
It was nearly a third-consecutive shutout victory by the Tar Heels when eighth-ranked Jamie Loeb served for championship on court one, but the 2014 ITA National Player of the Year lost the point and the second set to No. 19 Lauren Herring.
In the meantime, Georgia grabbed a win on court six to close its gap at 3-1, and also led on court five, but just when you thought momentum was shifting, Price shut the door on the Bulldogs to clinch the win for the Tar Heels.
“I think we had a killer instinct this tournament,” Kalbas said. “We knew what we wanted to do and we wanted to accomplish it. Some of these matches, to be 4-0, 4-1 instead of 4-2, 4-3, you have to have all six of your players competing at their highest level, mentally and physically, and we were able to do that.”
Rewind back to last May during the NCAA Championship, which just happened to be played at Georgia's home court in Athens, it was Price who stood tall until the bitter end of a grueling national championship match that was won, 4-3, by UCLA.
“I lost the national championship for us last year, it came down to my match,” said Price. “So in my mind I was like, 'I'm a senior, I'm going to go for it because I've already lost it once.' I didn't want to go out losing and say I didn't try to go for it.”
On Monday, the senior from Duluth, Ga., - about 45 miles west of Athens - exacted a bit of revenge by saving two match points down 5-4 in the third set, before mounting her comeback.
“I was definitely nervous throughout the match just because it was the national championship,” added Price. “I don't think that caused more nerves than I already had, but I definitely was looking at the scoreboard. Seeing my teammates win second sets was helping me push and fight even more.”
UNC needed roughly 30 minutes to take the doubles point from Georgia. Court two's tandem of Loeb and Price was the first to finish with a 6-2 victory. One minute later, Carter and Kay won by an identical 6-2 score on court three for the 1-0 lead.
“We were very strong in doubles here,” explained Kalbas. “Georgia I don't think has lost a doubles point this year. Winning the doubles point helped us get off to a good start.”
Dai and Vialle were leading 4-3 on court one when doubles play ended.
“We have pretty much the nucleus of our team back from last year that got to the NCAA finals, so we're an experience team, a talented team,” said Kalbas. “We can continue to get better throughout the year.
“I think we're actually a better outdoor team, I'm hopeful that we can show that. This team is so motivated so this is only going to motivate them even more.”
If the weather cooperates in the coming weeks, Carolina will have the ability to show off its outdoor skills, beginning with NC State on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C.
Georgia vs North Carolina
Feb 09, 2015 at Charlottesville, VA
(Boar's Head Sports Club)
#3 North Carolina 4, #9 Georgia 1
Singles competition
1. #8 Jamie Loeb (NC) vs. #19 Lauren Herring (UGA) 6-2, 5-7, 3-1, unfinished
2. #31 Hayley Carter (NC) def. Ellen Perez (UGA) 6-3, 6-4
3. #22 Caroline Price (NC) def. Kennedy Shaffer (UGA) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
4. Whitney Kay (NC) def. #83 Silvia Garcia (UGA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Ashley Dai (NC) vs. #91 Hannah King (UGA) 4-6, 6-4, 2-5, unfinished
6. Caroline Brinson (UGA) def. Kate Vialle (NC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #13 Ashley Dai/Kate Vialle (NC) vs. Lauren Herring/Ellen Perez (UGA) 4-4, unfinished
2. Jamie Loeb/Caroline Price (NC) def. Kennedy Shaffer/Silvia Garcia (UGA) 6-2
3. Hayley Carter/Whitney Kay (NC) def. Caroline Brinson/Hannah King (UGA) 6-2
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,4,6,3)
Players Mentioned
