University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Women’s Tennis Advances At ITA Regional
October 16, 2026 | Women's Tennis
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Carolina women's tennis began Main Draw action at the 2026 ITA Carolina Regional in Columbia, S.C. on Friday. The Tar Heels opened the day in singles play before starting doubles in the afternoon. Nine singles players and four doubles pairs from Carolina advanced to the next round of Main Draw.
Freshman Avery Nguyen continued her regional run with a ranked win over No. 121 Sankavi Gownder from Wake Forest. Nguyen earned her way into Main Draw after picking up two wins in the Qualifying Draw on Thursday.
Carolina continued to put together impressive performances in singles as each player earned straight set wins to advance. The Tar Heels will now have nine players in the round of 32 in Main Draw on Saturday.
In doubles, four of the five entries for UNC earned wins in the first round of Main Draw. Nicole Khirin and Anna Frey partnered up for the first time this season, recording an 8-3 victory over their opponents from Elon. Aya Manning and Alexis Nguyen also had their debut as partners for the Tar Heels. The duo earned an 8-1 win.
Friday Results
Singles
No. 21 Tatum Evans (UNC) d. Ria Bhakta (Clemson) 6-4, 6-0
Avery Nguyen (UNC) d. No. 121 Sankavi Gownder (Wake Forest) 6-2, 6-3
Alanis Hamilton (UNC) d. Ava Krug (Duke) 6-0, 6-3
Theadora Rabman (UNC) d. Mollie Garcia (Coastal Carolina) 6-0, 6-2
No. 95 Nicole Khirin (UNC) d. Sophia Cedeno (UNCG) 7-6 (1), 6-3
No. 85 Alexis Nguyen (UNC) d. Floortje Chrisstoffels (Coastal Carolina) 6-0, 6-1
Maddy Zampardo (UNC) d. Eva Oxford (Wake Forest) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
Anna Frey (UNC) d. Roxana Valdez (Presbyterian) 6-2, 6-1
Ishika Ashar (UNC) d. Aida Maria Mitrache (Coastal Carolina) 6-3, 7-5
No. 23 Kaitlyn Carnicella (South Carolina) d. Aya Manning (UNC) 6-3, 7-5
No. 33 Lavinia Tanasie (NC State) d. Mary Grace Rennard (UNC) 6-0, 6-2
Sara Suchankova (Clemson) d. Alana Boyce (UNC) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
Khirin/Frey (UNC) d. Rooth/Dierick (Elon) 8-3
Manning/Nguyen (UNC) d. Amirichetty/Doherty (Furman) 8-1
Evans/Hamilton (UNC) d. Sceney/Bellet Meriaux (Presbyterian) 8-0
Boyce Rabman (UNC) d. Rennard/Hill (Wake Forest) 8-4
Kouam/Chrisstoffels (Coastal Carolina) d. Ashar/Rennard (UNC) 8-7 (1)
Thursday Results
Singles
Avery Nguyen (UNC) d. Giorgia Grisogono (ECU) 6-1, 6-1
Alana Boyce (UNC) d. Kady Tannenbaum (Wake Forest) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Mary Grace Rennard (UNC) d. Lisa Kranec (Elon) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Avery Nguyen (UNC) d. Martina Vazquez Valles (Charleston Southern) 6-3, 6-2
Alana Boyce (UNC) d. Lisa Dierick (Elon) 6-2, 6-4
Mary Grace Rennard (UNC) d. Charlotte Vanstone McGrath (Coastal Carolina) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
ITA Regional Championships
South Carolina women's tennis is set to host the ITA Carolina Regional Championships from Oct. 15-20. South Carolina will welcome athletes from over 20 universities to compete at the Carolina Outdoor Tennis Center this weekend.
ITA Regionals will take place at 13 different regions/sites across the country. Regionals is also an opportunity for athletes to qualify for the NCAA Doubles and Singles Championships. This tournament will qualify the two singles finalists from each region while only the doubles champion at each site will qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Freshman Avery Nguyen continued her regional run with a ranked win over No. 121 Sankavi Gownder from Wake Forest. Nguyen earned her way into Main Draw after picking up two wins in the Qualifying Draw on Thursday.
Carolina continued to put together impressive performances in singles as each player earned straight set wins to advance. The Tar Heels will now have nine players in the round of 32 in Main Draw on Saturday.
In doubles, four of the five entries for UNC earned wins in the first round of Main Draw. Nicole Khirin and Anna Frey partnered up for the first time this season, recording an 8-3 victory over their opponents from Elon. Aya Manning and Alexis Nguyen also had their debut as partners for the Tar Heels. The duo earned an 8-1 win.
Friday Results
Singles
No. 21 Tatum Evans (UNC) d. Ria Bhakta (Clemson) 6-4, 6-0
Avery Nguyen (UNC) d. No. 121 Sankavi Gownder (Wake Forest) 6-2, 6-3
Alanis Hamilton (UNC) d. Ava Krug (Duke) 6-0, 6-3
Theadora Rabman (UNC) d. Mollie Garcia (Coastal Carolina) 6-0, 6-2
No. 95 Nicole Khirin (UNC) d. Sophia Cedeno (UNCG) 7-6 (1), 6-3
No. 85 Alexis Nguyen (UNC) d. Floortje Chrisstoffels (Coastal Carolina) 6-0, 6-1
Maddy Zampardo (UNC) d. Eva Oxford (Wake Forest) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
Anna Frey (UNC) d. Roxana Valdez (Presbyterian) 6-2, 6-1
Ishika Ashar (UNC) d. Aida Maria Mitrache (Coastal Carolina) 6-3, 7-5
No. 23 Kaitlyn Carnicella (South Carolina) d. Aya Manning (UNC) 6-3, 7-5
No. 33 Lavinia Tanasie (NC State) d. Mary Grace Rennard (UNC) 6-0, 6-2
Sara Suchankova (Clemson) d. Alana Boyce (UNC) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
Khirin/Frey (UNC) d. Rooth/Dierick (Elon) 8-3
Manning/Nguyen (UNC) d. Amirichetty/Doherty (Furman) 8-1
Evans/Hamilton (UNC) d. Sceney/Bellet Meriaux (Presbyterian) 8-0
Boyce Rabman (UNC) d. Rennard/Hill (Wake Forest) 8-4
Kouam/Chrisstoffels (Coastal Carolina) d. Ashar/Rennard (UNC) 8-7 (1)
Thursday Results
Singles
Avery Nguyen (UNC) d. Giorgia Grisogono (ECU) 6-1, 6-1
Alana Boyce (UNC) d. Kady Tannenbaum (Wake Forest) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Mary Grace Rennard (UNC) d. Lisa Kranec (Elon) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Avery Nguyen (UNC) d. Martina Vazquez Valles (Charleston Southern) 6-3, 6-2
Alana Boyce (UNC) d. Lisa Dierick (Elon) 6-2, 6-4
Mary Grace Rennard (UNC) d. Charlotte Vanstone McGrath (Coastal Carolina) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
ITA Regional Championships
South Carolina women's tennis is set to host the ITA Carolina Regional Championships from Oct. 15-20. South Carolina will welcome athletes from over 20 universities to compete at the Carolina Outdoor Tennis Center this weekend.
ITA Regionals will take place at 13 different regions/sites across the country. Regionals is also an opportunity for athletes to qualify for the NCAA Doubles and Singles Championships. This tournament will qualify the two singles finalists from each region while only the doubles champion at each site will qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
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