North Carolina
Notre Dame
Confidence Fuels Women's Tennis Victory over Notre Dame
April 2, 2002 | Women's Tennis
April 2, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, NC - Webster defines confidence as a consciousness of being sure. The 7th-ranked Carolina women's tennis team defines confidence as the key to victory, displaying that state of self-assuredness in a 6-1 victory over 23rd-ranked Notre Dame on Tuesday.
The Tar Heels' victory is their second over Notre Dame this season, and their eighth in a row, improving their record to 15-3. The players and coaches attribute today's victory and the continued resurgence of winning play since two consecutive midseason losses to a change in their mental approach to the game.
The Tar Heels are playing more relaxed-- focusing more on the match itself instead of the consequences of losing. Lee Bairos best displayed that mental focus today as she bounced back from a 4-6 loss in the first set to defeat Katie Cunha 6-0, 6-0 in the final two sets of the No. 5 match.
"I just relaxed," Bairos said. "I just changed my train of thought. I was getting frustrated early and then calmed down. Being calmer makes me play better."
Julie Rotondi also showed a calmer, more relaxed approach to playing, with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Lindsey Green at flight three being the payoff.
"I haven't felt this great in a long time," Rotondi said after the match. "It's the first time in two months I've felt this confident. It's obvious how much better we all play when we're relaxed."
Kendall Cline, Marlene Mejia and Kate Pinchbeck also scored victories for the Tar Heels. Mejia's came over 75th-ranked Becky Varnum while Pinchbeck's win improved her dual match record to a perfect 18-0.
Assistant Coach Rebecca Dirksen said the girls need to maintain their focus to prepare for their match against No. 2 Wake Forest Wednesday afternoon.
"When you get to the point that you're this confident, you don't feel like you have to do anything special to prepare," she said. "Each match is preparation for the next one."
The Wake Forest match will be at 5 p.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis center in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels will have to show that confidence again, as the Demon Deacons will give them their toughest test of the season.
Singles
1. Marlene Mejia (UNC) d. Becky Varnum (ND), 6-2, 7-5
2. Kate Pinchbeck d. nina Vaughan, 6-1, 6-4
3. Julie Rotondi (UNC) d. Lindsey Green, (ND), 6-1, 6-2
4. Alicia Salas (ND) d. Aniela Mojzis (UNC), 6-3, 7-6 (3)
5. Lee Bairos (UNC) d. Katie Cunha (NC), 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
6. Kendall Cline (UNC) d. Sarah Jane Connelly (ND), 7-6 (3), 6-0
Doubles
1. Mejia/Rotondi (UNC) d. Cunha/Green (ND), 9-8 (4)
2. Varnum/Vaughan (ND) d. Mojzis/Cline (UNC), 8-5
3. Bairos/Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Connelly/Salas (ND), 8-3
