University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Carolina Advances To ACCWTEN Title Match
April 23, 2016 | Women's Tennis
Sunday's title match features the nationally-ranked No. 2 Tar Heels against second seed and nationally-ranked No. 7 Miami at 10 a.m. on ESPN3.
North Carolina (28-2) gained the early momentum with an easy walk through in doubles. Senior Ashley Dai and freshman Chloe Ouellet-Pizer was first to post a 6-2 win, while fourth-ranked Hayley Carter and Whitney Kay notched an identical 6-2 score for the 1-0 lead for the Tar Heels.
Once singles got underway it was even split with Carolina winning three sets in fairly comfortable fashion, while Virginia (16-10) did the same in the three remaining courts.
Dai gave UNC the 2-0 edge when her opponent, Cassie Mercer, was forced to retire from the match with an ankle injury.
No. 16 Julia Elbaba put the Cavaliers in the win column with a 6-1, 6-2, victory over No. 39 Kay on court two, cutting the Tar Heel advantage to 2-1.
But sophomore Marika Akkerman and freshman Jessie Aney refused to let off the gas pedal in their respective matches. Akkerman won 6-1, 6-2 over Erica Susi on court five, and Aney won 6-1, 6-3 over No. 85 Stephanie Nauta to clinch the match at 4-1 in favor of Carolina.
The much ballyhooed match on court one between UNC”s No. 1 ranked Carter and Virginia's No. 2 Danielle Collins did not figure in the final team scores. Collins played great in taking the first set, 6-3, and led 2-0 in the second, but Carter appeared to begin crawling out from her deficit by winning the next two points, before the match was called.
North Carolina is in search of its first ACC title since 2011 and the seventh in program history. UNC's last appearance in the championship match was a 4-2 setback to Duke in 2012.
Singles Results
1. #1 Hayley Carter (UNC) vs. #2 Danielle Collins (UVA) 3-6, 2-2, unfinished
2. #16 Julia Elbaba (UVA) def. #39 Whitney Kay (UNC) 6-1, 6-2
3. #57 Jessie Aney (UNC) def. #85 Stephanie Nauta (UVA) 6-1, 6-3
4. Meghan Kelley (UVA) vs. Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (UNC) 6-1, 5-1, unfinished
5. Marika Akkerman (UNC) def. Erica Susi (UVA) 6-1, 6-2
6. Ashley Dai (UNC) def. Cassie Mercer (UVA) 6-2, 2-2, won by retirement
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 5, 3
Doubles Results
1. #4 Hayley Carter/Whitney Kay (UNC) def. #16 Danielle Collins/Meghan Kelley (UVA) 6-2
2. #89 Jessie Aney/Kate Vialle (UNC) vs. Stephanie Nauta/Cassie Mercer (UVA) 5-3, unfinished
3. Ashley Dai/Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (UNC) def. Julia Elbaba/Erica Susi (UVA) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1
Match Notes
North Carolina 28-2; National ranking #2
Virginia 16-10; National ranking #16
Players Mentioned
