2020-21 Women's Tennis Roster
Daavettila, Sara
Sara Daavettila
- Height:
- 5-6
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Williamston, Mich.
- High School:
- Williamston
Bio
CAREER
Seven-time ITA All-America selection; singles (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021), doubles (2018, 2020, 2021) • Tied with Hayley Carter for most All-America awards in program history • Second at UNC with 149 career singles victories • Owns the fifth best winning percentage in school history at 81.0 percent with a 149-35 career record • 2021 Honda Sport Award winner, the first in Carolina women’s tennis history • Won the 2019 ITA Fall National Championship singles title • Member of three ITA National Team Indoor Championships in 2018, 2020 and 2021 • Only player to ever receive the Most Outstanding Player award more than once at the ITA indoor tournament (2018, 2020, 2021) • 15-0 career singles record in five ITA indoor team appearances • Member of four ACC Championship clubs (2017-19, ’21) • Member of two teams that reached the semifinals of the NCAA Team Championship (2019, 2021) • Only player in UNC history and the fourth from an ACC institution to reach the NCAA Singles Quarterfinals three times • Graduated in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and a social and economics justice minor • Recognized as a Tar Heel Leader of Distinction, the highest honor bestowed by the Leadership Academy • Granted an additional year of eligibility after the 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SENIOR SEASON (2020-21)
2021 Honda Sport Award winner • 2021 UNC Patterson Medal winner • 2021 Academic All-America second team • ITA All-America in singles and doubles • ACC Player of the Year • First team All-ACC • Named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2021 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship • Academic All-District • All-ACC Academic Team • Named to the 2021 USTA Collegiate Summer Team • ACC Player of the Week four times • Finished the season ranked No. 3 in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Cameron Morra • Reached No. 1 in singles for the first time on April 21 • Recorded a 22-2 overall singles record (18-1 in dual matches, 8-1 vs. the ACC) • Was 13-3 in doubles (12-2 at No. 1, 8-0 vs. the ACC) with Cameron Morra • No. 1 seed at 2021 NCAA Singles Championship and advanced to semifinals • No. 2 seed at 2021 NCAA Doubles Championship and reached the Round of 16 • Defeated No. 1 Estela Perez-Somarriba of Miami on March 6 • Helped Carolina earn the program’s first No. 1 seed at the NCAA Team Championship and reached the semifinals • Won the ACC Championship for the fourth time • Won the ITA Team Indoor Championship for the third time.
SENIOR SEASON (2019-20)
ITA All-America in singles and doubles • 2020 ITA Carolina Region Senior Player of the Year • Won the 2019 ITA Fall National Championship singles title • Named the Most Outstanding Player and earned the Sportsmanship Award at the 2020 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship • ITA National Player of the Month (November) and ITA National Player of the Week (Feb. 11) • ACC Academic Honor Roll member • Finished the season ranked No. 5 in singles and No. 4 in doubles with Alexa Graham • Recorded a 23-2 overall singles record (12-0 in dual matches, 5-0 vs. ACC) • Concluded the season on an 18-match winning streak • Was 13-5 in doubles (9-1 at No. 1 doubles) with Alexa Graham • Defeated defending NCAA Singles National Champion Estela Perez-Somarriba of Miami in the semifinals of the ITA Fall National Championship and then beat Anna Turati of Texas in the finals • Reached the quarterfinals of the Oracle ITA Masters and the quarters in both singles and doubles at the ITA Women’s All-American Championships • Won the ITA Team Indoor Championship for the second time.
JUNIOR SEASON (2018-19)
ITA All-America in singles • NCAA Team Championship All-Tournament Team • All-ACC Second Team • All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll member • Earned at-large selection to the NCAA Singles Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons • Finished the season ranked No. 12 in singles • Named to ITA Team Indoor Championship All-Tournament Team at No. 2 singles • Recorded a 32-8 overall singles record • 20-5 in dual matches, 8-2 vs. the ACC • Was 13-9 in doubles (10-6 at No. 3 doubles) with Alle Sanford • Had a 9-2 singles record in the 2019 postseason; 5-0 in NCAA Team Championship • Defeated No. 3 Kate Fahey of Michigan in the opening round of the NCAA Singles Championship • Posted singles 14 wins over ranked opponents, six coming against top-20 players • Went 6-2 in the postseason in doubles with Sanford • Won the ACC Championship for the third-straight season.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2017-18)
ITA All-America in doubles • Most Outstanding Player of the 2018 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship • All-ACC Third Team • Earned at-large selection to both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships • Finished the season ranked No. 42 in singles and No. 17 in doubles with Alle Sanford • The duo reached the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship to garner All-America status after being added as the first alternate in the field when Duke’s Kelly Chen and Samantha Harris were a late scratch • Compiled a 29-12 overall singles record, including a 22-3 dual record and 8-3 mark against the ACC • Went 22-11 in doubles with Sanford that included a 14-7 duals record and 4-2 vs. the ACC • Won all four of her singles matches at ITA Indoors - two at No. 2 and two at No. 3 singles • Also went 3-1 with Sanford at No. 2 doubles • Reached quarterfinals of Oracle ITA Masters • Competed at the 2017 Riviera/ITA All-Americans • Lost in the semifinals of the 2017 ITA Carolinas Regional singles bracket • Won the ACC Championship for the second year in a row • Won the ITA Team Indoor Championship for the first time.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2016-17)
ITA All-America in singles • ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year • ACC Freshman of the Year • First Team All-ACC • All-ACC Academic Team • Earned at-large selection in NCAA Singles Championship • Advanced to the quarterfinals to gain All-American status • Finished season ranked No. 14 in singles and No. 29 in doubles with Hayley Carter • 43-11 overall singles record • Third most wins by a UNC freshman • 23-4 tournament record, 20-7 in dual matches (9-4 vs. the ACC) • Played majority of the dual match season at No. 2 and recorded a 19-7 record at that line • 25 singles victories over nationally-ranked players • 22-5 overall doubles record • Was 10-0 playing with Hayley Carter and 9-2 with Makenna Jones • Started the season ranked the No. 1 freshman/newcomer in 2017 by the ITA • Won the singles consolation title at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship • Defeated No. 7 Sinead Lohan (Miami[Fla.]) in the finals • Won the 2016 ITA Carolinas Regional singles title • Reached the semifinals of the 2016 Oracle/ITA Masters • Advanced to the Main Draw bracket at 2016 Riviera/ITA All-Americans • Won the ACC Championship for the first time.
JUNIOR/PREP
Considered a blue chip recruit and was considered the No. 1 player in her class by tennisrecruiting.net • 2014 and 2015 high school state champion • Broke a national record for not losing a single game during the 2015 season • In 2016, won the G18 USTA Midwest Level 1 Indoor and Outdoor Championship • In 2015, won the G18 USTA National Selection, the G18 USTA Midwest Level Outdoor Championship and the 2015 USTA Midwest Level 2 December Designated title • Won 11 total USTA Midwest Championships between 2013-2016 • Daughter of Bruce and Breita Daavettila • Mother played collegiate tennis at Western Michigan • Has three sisters and two brothers.
Seven-time ITA All-America selection; singles (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021), doubles (2018, 2020, 2021) • Tied with Hayley Carter for most All-America awards in program history • Second at UNC with 149 career singles victories • Owns the fifth best winning percentage in school history at 81.0 percent with a 149-35 career record • 2021 Honda Sport Award winner, the first in Carolina women’s tennis history • Won the 2019 ITA Fall National Championship singles title • Member of three ITA National Team Indoor Championships in 2018, 2020 and 2021 • Only player to ever receive the Most Outstanding Player award more than once at the ITA indoor tournament (2018, 2020, 2021) • 15-0 career singles record in five ITA indoor team appearances • Member of four ACC Championship clubs (2017-19, ’21) • Member of two teams that reached the semifinals of the NCAA Team Championship (2019, 2021) • Only player in UNC history and the fourth from an ACC institution to reach the NCAA Singles Quarterfinals three times • Graduated in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and a social and economics justice minor • Recognized as a Tar Heel Leader of Distinction, the highest honor bestowed by the Leadership Academy • Granted an additional year of eligibility after the 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SENIOR SEASON (2020-21)
2021 Honda Sport Award winner • 2021 UNC Patterson Medal winner • 2021 Academic All-America second team • ITA All-America in singles and doubles • ACC Player of the Year • First team All-ACC • Named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2021 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship • Academic All-District • All-ACC Academic Team • Named to the 2021 USTA Collegiate Summer Team • ACC Player of the Week four times • Finished the season ranked No. 3 in singles and No. 3 in doubles with Cameron Morra • Reached No. 1 in singles for the first time on April 21 • Recorded a 22-2 overall singles record (18-1 in dual matches, 8-1 vs. the ACC) • Was 13-3 in doubles (12-2 at No. 1, 8-0 vs. the ACC) with Cameron Morra • No. 1 seed at 2021 NCAA Singles Championship and advanced to semifinals • No. 2 seed at 2021 NCAA Doubles Championship and reached the Round of 16 • Defeated No. 1 Estela Perez-Somarriba of Miami on March 6 • Helped Carolina earn the program’s first No. 1 seed at the NCAA Team Championship and reached the semifinals • Won the ACC Championship for the fourth time • Won the ITA Team Indoor Championship for the third time.
SENIOR SEASON (2019-20)
ITA All-America in singles and doubles • 2020 ITA Carolina Region Senior Player of the Year • Won the 2019 ITA Fall National Championship singles title • Named the Most Outstanding Player and earned the Sportsmanship Award at the 2020 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship • ITA National Player of the Month (November) and ITA National Player of the Week (Feb. 11) • ACC Academic Honor Roll member • Finished the season ranked No. 5 in singles and No. 4 in doubles with Alexa Graham • Recorded a 23-2 overall singles record (12-0 in dual matches, 5-0 vs. ACC) • Concluded the season on an 18-match winning streak • Was 13-5 in doubles (9-1 at No. 1 doubles) with Alexa Graham • Defeated defending NCAA Singles National Champion Estela Perez-Somarriba of Miami in the semifinals of the ITA Fall National Championship and then beat Anna Turati of Texas in the finals • Reached the quarterfinals of the Oracle ITA Masters and the quarters in both singles and doubles at the ITA Women’s All-American Championships • Won the ITA Team Indoor Championship for the second time.
JUNIOR SEASON (2018-19)
ITA All-America in singles • NCAA Team Championship All-Tournament Team • All-ACC Second Team • All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll member • Earned at-large selection to the NCAA Singles Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons • Finished the season ranked No. 12 in singles • Named to ITA Team Indoor Championship All-Tournament Team at No. 2 singles • Recorded a 32-8 overall singles record • 20-5 in dual matches, 8-2 vs. the ACC • Was 13-9 in doubles (10-6 at No. 3 doubles) with Alle Sanford • Had a 9-2 singles record in the 2019 postseason; 5-0 in NCAA Team Championship • Defeated No. 3 Kate Fahey of Michigan in the opening round of the NCAA Singles Championship • Posted singles 14 wins over ranked opponents, six coming against top-20 players • Went 6-2 in the postseason in doubles with Sanford • Won the ACC Championship for the third-straight season.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2017-18)
ITA All-America in doubles • Most Outstanding Player of the 2018 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship • All-ACC Third Team • Earned at-large selection to both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships • Finished the season ranked No. 42 in singles and No. 17 in doubles with Alle Sanford • The duo reached the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship to garner All-America status after being added as the first alternate in the field when Duke’s Kelly Chen and Samantha Harris were a late scratch • Compiled a 29-12 overall singles record, including a 22-3 dual record and 8-3 mark against the ACC • Went 22-11 in doubles with Sanford that included a 14-7 duals record and 4-2 vs. the ACC • Won all four of her singles matches at ITA Indoors - two at No. 2 and two at No. 3 singles • Also went 3-1 with Sanford at No. 2 doubles • Reached quarterfinals of Oracle ITA Masters • Competed at the 2017 Riviera/ITA All-Americans • Lost in the semifinals of the 2017 ITA Carolinas Regional singles bracket • Won the ACC Championship for the second year in a row • Won the ITA Team Indoor Championship for the first time.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2016-17)
ITA All-America in singles • ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year • ACC Freshman of the Year • First Team All-ACC • All-ACC Academic Team • Earned at-large selection in NCAA Singles Championship • Advanced to the quarterfinals to gain All-American status • Finished season ranked No. 14 in singles and No. 29 in doubles with Hayley Carter • 43-11 overall singles record • Third most wins by a UNC freshman • 23-4 tournament record, 20-7 in dual matches (9-4 vs. the ACC) • Played majority of the dual match season at No. 2 and recorded a 19-7 record at that line • 25 singles victories over nationally-ranked players • 22-5 overall doubles record • Was 10-0 playing with Hayley Carter and 9-2 with Makenna Jones • Started the season ranked the No. 1 freshman/newcomer in 2017 by the ITA • Won the singles consolation title at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship • Defeated No. 7 Sinead Lohan (Miami[Fla.]) in the finals • Won the 2016 ITA Carolinas Regional singles title • Reached the semifinals of the 2016 Oracle/ITA Masters • Advanced to the Main Draw bracket at 2016 Riviera/ITA All-Americans • Won the ACC Championship for the first time.
JUNIOR/PREP
Considered a blue chip recruit and was considered the No. 1 player in her class by tennisrecruiting.net • 2014 and 2015 high school state champion • Broke a national record for not losing a single game during the 2015 season • In 2016, won the G18 USTA Midwest Level 1 Indoor and Outdoor Championship • In 2015, won the G18 USTA National Selection, the G18 USTA Midwest Level Outdoor Championship and the 2015 USTA Midwest Level 2 December Designated title • Won 11 total USTA Midwest Championships between 2013-2016 • Daughter of Bruce and Breita Daavettila • Mother played collegiate tennis at Western Michigan • Has three sisters and two brothers.
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