University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Texas A&M
Undefeated Women's Tennis Advances To Face No. 4 Duke
February 6, 2003 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 6, 2003
MADISON, Wis. - The fifth-ranked University of North Carolina women's tennis team (5-0) defeated No. 35 Texas A&M 6-1 in the first round of the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships Thursday evening at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis. With the win, the Tar Heels move on to the quarterfinals where they will face rival fourth-ranked Duke (5-0).
The Tar Heels earned the doubles point, as well as five points from singles competition to account for the 6-1 defeat over Texas A&M (1-2). In doubles action, the senior pair of Kate Pinchbeck and Kendrick Bunn defeated Jessica Roland and Roberta Spencer 8-3. Senior Marlene Mejia and sophomore Aniela Mojzis also teamed up to defeat their Texas A&M opponents with an 8-3 score. Carolina sealed the doubles point with the two victories. At the third doubles spot, Texas A&M's Nickie Mechem and Siva Iwinski defeated junior Lee Bairos and sophomore partner Kendall Cline 8-6.
In singles competition, Pinchbeck led the way for the Tar Heels at the No. 1 position, defeating Roland 6-1, 6-2. At No. 2, Mejia fought back from a close first set to defeat Spencer 7-5, 6-2, while Mojzis encountered little trouble at No. 3, defeating Walker 6-0, 6-1. Cline battled from behind to defeat Hedberg 4-6, 6-3,6-1 at the No. 4 position, and No. 6 Bunn dfeated Iwinski 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a hard-fought match to clinch the Carolina victory. The only Texas A&M point of the match came at No. 5, where Mechem defeated Bairos 6-2, 6-4.
This will be Carolina's second quarterfinal appearance in as many years at the ITA National Team Championships. It will also be the second consecutive year that the Tar Heels have faced Duke at this prestigious team tournament. The Blue Devils defeated the Tar Heels 5-2 in last year's ITA Nationals, but later in the season Carolina defeated Duke 4-3 to seal its fifth ACC Championship in women's tennis and their first since the 1980-81 season.
The two undefeated teams will meet at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis. Friday at 3:30 p.m. CST.
#5 North Carolina 6, #35 Texas A&M 1
Doubles
No. 1 #19 Pinchbeck/Bunn(UNC) def. Roland/Spencer(TEX) 8-3
No. 2 #50Mojzis/Mejia(UNC) def. Hedberg/Walker(TEX) 8-3
No. 3 Mechem/Iwinski(TEX) def. Bairos/Cline(UNC) 8-6
Singles
No. 1 #11 Kate Pinchbeck(UNC) def. #108 Jessica Roland(TEX) 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 #38 Marlene Mejia(UNC) def. Roberta Spencer(TEX) 7-5, 6-2
No. 3 #61 Aniela Mojzis(UNC) def. #107 Lauren Walker(TEX) 6-0, 6-1
No. 4 Kendall Cline(UNC) def. Ashley Hedberg(TEX) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 Nickie Mechem(TEX) def. Lee Bairos(UNC) 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 Kendrick Bunn(UNC) def. Siva Iwinski(TEX) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4*
Order of finish (singles): 2, 4, 6, 1, 3, 5
* - clinched win
Players Mentioned
