University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Carolina Tops Tech To Repeat As ACC Champs
April 30, 2017 | Women's Tennis
North Carolina (30-2) wins its eighth ACC women's tennis championship in program history, and third under the leadership of head coach Brian Kalbas, who brought home previous titles in 2011 and 2016. The Tar Heels also notch back-to-back titles for the first time since winning four in a row from 1977-80.
Simultaneous wins on courts 3 & 4 lifted the Tar Heels to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Georgia Tech to repeat as ACC Champions! #GDTBATH pic.twitter.com/UqApgPY31x
— UNC Women's Tennis (@UNC_wtennis) May 1, 2017
“It's amazing. I've been [at North Carolina] 14 years and this is only our third championship. So to win back to back is truly amazing, said Kalbas. “It's a tribute to our hard work, dedication and commitment to get better and strive for greatness.”
Hayley Carter, the 2017 ACC Player of the Year, was named the championship's Most Valuable Player after starting the Tar Heels' comeback.
“It's so exciting. I've put in a lot of hard work,” said Carter. “Last year I did really well, and I could have taken it easy over the summer, but I think I tried to push myself as hard I could. I wanted to get better in doubles and singles and I think it showed so far this year.”
Carter also earned Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2016 and is only the second player in ACC history to repeat in both categories. She is currently the second-best singles player in the nation and is the top-ranked doubles team with partner Jessie Aney.
“[Carter]'s been everything for us. We wouldn't be here without her. It's a team victory but she's been incredible,” said Kalbas. “She deserves all the credit for being MVP.”
Georgia Tech (25-4) won the doubles point, led 2-0 early in singles play, and still held a slim 3-2 advantage in the final moments of a match then went over three hours to complete. But the slugfest that featured a pair of top-10 ranked teams pivoted and came to a close at the exact same moment when both Jessie Aney saw her opponents return sail long, and on the neighboring court four, freshman Alexa Graham won her match to set off a jubilant celebration that spanned portions of both aforementioned playing surfaces.
For the second time in three matches this weekend, Carolina lost the doubles point to fall behind 1-0. No. 1 Hayley Carter and Jessie Aney lost for only the second time all year, 6-1, to #39 Paige Hourigan and Kenya Jones. The point was clinched on court two for the Yellow Jackets by #23 Rasheeda McAdoo and Johnnise Renaud, winning 6-2 over Cassandra Vazquez and Alexa Graham.
Renaud and the Yellow Jackets carried their momentum into singles, taking a 2-0 lead when the 58th ranked player won 6-1, 6-2, over No. 15 Sara Daavettila on court two.
Carolina's comeback started when Chloe Ouellet-Pizer took down Luca Fabian, 6-3, 6-1, on court six. The sophomore from Chapel Hill currently boasts a nine-match winning streak and is 19-1 since Feb. 21.
No. 2 Carter knotted the match at 2-2 with an impressive 6-4, 6-4, victory over No. 50 McAdoo on court one. The win pushes her dual-match record to a perfect 25-0 in 2017.
The final three singles matches all would end up decided in three sets. Georgia Tech's Nami Otsuka outlasted No. 97 Makenna Jones for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, victory on court five to lift the Yellow Jackets to a 3-2 edge.
No. 32 Aney missed on multiple chances to close out her match, but ultimately prevailed, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 over No. 84 Hourigan.
No. 66 Graham took the first set, 6-4, but lost a second-set tiebreaker 7-6 (5) to Kenya Jones. The freshman from Garden City, N.Y., jumped out to a 2-0 lead and later won the final four points to clinch victory for the Tar Heels.
Singles Results
1. #2 Hayley Carter (UNC) def. #50 Rasheeda McAdoo (GT) 6-4, 6-4
2. #58 Johnnise Renaud (GT) def. #15 Sara Daavettila (UNC) 6-1, 6-2
3. #32 Jessie Aney (UNC) def. #84 Paige Hourigan (GT) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
4. #66 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. Kenya Jones (GT) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2
5. Nami Otsuka (GT) def. #97 Makenna Jones (UNC) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (UNC) def. Luca Fabian (GT) 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 1, 5, 3, 4
Doubles Results
1. #39 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones (GT) def. #1 Hayley Carter/Jessie Aney (UNC) 6-1
2. #23 Rasheeda McAdoo/Johnnise Renaud (GT) def. Cassandra Vazquez/Alexa Graham (UNC) 6-2
3. Sara Daavettila/Makenna Jones (UNC) vs. Nami Otsuka/Luca Fabian (GT) 3-3, unfinished
Order of Finish: 1, 2
Players Mentioned
