Top Moments Of 2019-20: #1 vs. #2

The countdown marches on as we take a look 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.

In what turned out to be arguably the best regular season match of the season that pitted No. 1 vs. No. 2 according to the Oracle/ITA national rankings, the visiting and top-ranked Tar Heels made a valiant comeback to beat second ranked Florida State, 4-3, on February 21 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Carolina entered the match unbeaten having won a dozen duals, and had beaten FSU on 11 straight occasions. The Seminoles were also flying high having already beaten five top-20 opponents and were enjoying their highest ranking in program history.

The Heels took the doubles point and Alexa Graham made quick work of Emmanuelle Salas on court one, 6-4, 6-2, to maintain a 2-1 edge over the Noles.

FSU began smelling a possible upset by grabbing the next two singles matches to take a 3-2 lead, meaning Carolina had to win the remaining two matches to continue its reign as the No. 1 team in the land.

Rookie Elizabeth Scotty dropped her opening set on court three, but roared back to force a third set with a convincing 6-2 second-set win over No. 83 Nandini Das, the lone ranked singles player in the FSU lineup.

Meanwhile, over on court two sophomore Cameron Morra rallied from an early third-set deficit by winning four games in a row in a set that would be decided in a tiebreaker. The All-American trailed 2-3 and 4-5 in the breaker, but played brilliant tennis down the stretch to take down Petra Hule, 9-7, to knot the score at 3-3.

With all eyes fixed on court three, Scotty clinched the match for Carolina with a 6-1 third-set victory to give the Heels a remarkable come-from-behind victory.

UNC extended its winning streak to six straight victories over No. 2 ranked teams, a run that dates back to the 2013 ITA National Team Indoor Championship finals win over UCLA.

Of note, Carolina did play without All-America standout Sara Daavettila, who was pulled from the match after doubles due to illness.

Top Moments of 2019-20 Countdown
Seven Ranked Singles Players
Comeback At Wake
Undefeated
Graham's Run To All-American Final
#BeatDuke
No. 1

Players Mentioned

Sara Daavettila

Alexa Graham

Cameron Morra

Elizabeth Scotty

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