University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Mark Black
Top Moments Of 2019-20: #BeatDuke
April 22, 2020 | Women's Tennis
We hit the middle of our countdown in looking back at the top moments of the shortened 2019-20 North Carolina women's tennis season. When Carolina Athletics canceled all spring competitions in accordance with the ACC's decision on March 17 due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNC was in the midst of putting together perhaps the best season in program history. The Tar Heels were No. 1 in the national polls with a perfect 18-0 record, had already won team and singles ITA National Championships and sat atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. Please continue to visit GoHeels.com as we look back on the amazing accomplishments head coach Brian Kalbas and his program enjoyed this past season.
#BeatDuke. A popular social media hashtag for Tar Heel fans whenever Carolina and Duke square off in any competition. It's become almost a right of passage for the women's tennis program when facing the Blue Devils in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. The 4-0 sweep on Feb. 9, 2020 inside Chicago's XS Tennis Village marked the third year in a row and the fifth time in the last 10 seasons that Carolina has #BeatDuke in the semifinals. Really, it's a testament to just how good both programs have been over the last decade.
Just how good have they been? Since 2013 when UNC won its first indoor national championship, the two programs have combined to win five of the last eight titles. Duke was victorious in 2014, a year in which they beat the Heels in the quarterfinals, while Carolina has filled up its trophy case at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center with championships from 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020.
The Tar Heels never blinked in picking up the early 1-0 advantage with the always critical doubles point. Seniors Sara Daavettila and Makenna Jones both won in straight sets, the latter to clinch the match from court five. Sandwiched in-between was a win from junior Alle Sanford on line six.
In the bragging rights department, the victory in early February gave Carolina its fifth consecutive win in all competitions against its Tobacco Road rival. It also improved Brian Kalbas' record to 19-13 against the Blue Devils and the Heels now lead the head-to-head series, 45-44. However, Duke currently enjoys a slight advantage in the race for most wins all-time among ACC programs. The Blue Devils will take a slim, 877-876, advantage over the Tar Heels into the 2021 campaign.
#BeatDuke. A popular social media hashtag for Tar Heel fans whenever Carolina and Duke square off in any competition. It's become almost a right of passage for the women's tennis program when facing the Blue Devils in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. The 4-0 sweep on Feb. 9, 2020 inside Chicago's XS Tennis Village marked the third year in a row and the fifth time in the last 10 seasons that Carolina has #BeatDuke in the semifinals. Really, it's a testament to just how good both programs have been over the last decade.
Just how good have they been? Since 2013 when UNC won its first indoor national championship, the two programs have combined to win five of the last eight titles. Duke was victorious in 2014, a year in which they beat the Heels in the quarterfinals, while Carolina has filled up its trophy case at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center with championships from 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020.
The Tar Heels never blinked in picking up the early 1-0 advantage with the always critical doubles point. Seniors Sara Daavettila and Makenna Jones both won in straight sets, the latter to clinch the match from court five. Sandwiched in-between was a win from junior Alle Sanford on line six.
In the bragging rights department, the victory in early February gave Carolina its fifth consecutive win in all competitions against its Tobacco Road rival. It also improved Brian Kalbas' record to 19-13 against the Blue Devils and the Heels now lead the head-to-head series, 45-44. However, Duke currently enjoys a slight advantage in the race for most wins all-time among ACC programs. The Blue Devils will take a slim, 877-876, advantage over the Tar Heels into the 2021 campaign.
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