North Carolina
USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships
McHale Advances to NIIC Quarters Before Falling
November 4, 2011 | Women's Tennis
Nov. 4, 2011
FLUSHING, N.Y. --- North Carolina junior Lauren McHale scored yet another top-30 upset before finally bowing out of the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Friday at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. McHale defeated No. 28 Diana Nakic of Baylor in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, before falling to No. 26 Joanna Mather of Florida, 6-3, 6-1.
A day after toppling No. 27 Mary Anne Macfarlane of Alabama in the opening round, McHale took aim at another top-30 opponent in the round of 16. The Englewood Cliffs, N.J., standout took the opening set from Baylor's Nakic, 6-4. After getting a break to go up 5-3 in the second, McHale was broken back and Nakic had an opportunity to serve at 4-5 to stay in the match.
McHale responded, however, and answered with another break to take the set and the match, 6-4, 6-4. The win was her second in as many days over a top-30 opponent and her eighth win over a ranked opponent this fall.
The win put McHale into the quarterfinals where her run would come to an end against Florida's Mather. The 26th-ranked Gator won nine of the last 10 games to score a 6-3, 6-1 victory and advance to the semifinals.
McHale finishes the fall with a sparkling 15-5 record in singles play.
Players Mentioned
