The mantra “Go Heels!” echoed throughout the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center all weekend. However, it was in Sunday’s final that the cheer took on more of a significant meaning for the North Carolina women’s tennis team.
Out of the nine-team field in the 10th annual Kitty Harrison Invitational in Chapel Hill — a field that included ACC opponents Virginia, Maryland and Virginia Tech — it was UNC senior Tessa Lyons and junior Caroline Price who collided in the championship match.
It was Price who ultimately walked away the champion, but that was overshadowed by the in-game interactions between the two teammates.
After playing standard singles and doubles matches throughout the weekend, Sunday afternoon’s playoff matches were played under a tie-breaker format — a procedure that calls for players to switch sides after every six points until one player wins at least seven points and is up by at least two.
Both Price and Lyons continued to play at the exceptional level that carried them each to the championship game, but it was while switching sides that it became apparent that this was no ordinary match.
Each switch included a cheerful smile and a high five, but then it was back to business.
Price, who dominated in all six of her first full set of singles matches since May, said that playing Lyons in a competitive setting was a challenge.
“It’s a little weird, because it is your teammate,” Price said. “We try to focus and stay intense, but it’s really hard. I’m cheering for her even while I am trying to beat her, so it’s a little weird — I want her to do well, too.”
Lyons, ranked No. 92 nationally, said that having to face a teammate may not be an ideal circumstance, but it is important to make the most of it.
