Women's tennis rolls over 'Pack

The N.C. State women's tennis team came to the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Thursday undefeated and looking for its fourth-ever victory in the lopsided series against North Carolina. But the Tar Heels picked up a victory just as dominant as their history against the Wolfpack, rolling 6-1 for their thirty-sixth win in the series. "For the whole team, it was our most focused and intense match of the year," head coach Brian Kalbas said. No. 10 UNC (10-2) swept the doubles matches to win the doubles point and jump out to a 1-0 lead in the ACC opener for both schools. At No. 1 doubles, UNC's Jenna Long and Sara Anundsen - ranked No. 10 in the country - won 8-2 against N.C. State's Barbara Orlay? and Alejandra Guerra, who were ranked No. 42. The momentum carried over to singles play, where each Tar Heel won the first set and Long, Anundsen and Austin Smith picked up straight-set victories to clinch the match. "I was really proud after winning doubles that they sustained the focus into singles," Kalbas said. "It wasn't just that we won (the singles matches), it was how we won them." No. 40 N.C. State (8-1) was left to trudge back to Raleigh with another defeat, as they ran into a Tar Heel tornado that played its fourth of six straight home matches. And the Wolfpack, which features a truly international lineup - its top four singles players are from Hungary, New Zealand, India and Mexico - didn't have an answer on the Tar Heels' home court. "You never know when you're going to click on all cylinders," Kalbas said. The cylinders started clicking right away with Long and Anundsen propelling the team at No. 1 doubles. "They got off to a slow start in our last match and so I told them being upperclassmen, it's important to set the tone and be leaders," Kalbas said. The two juniors said they watched tape with the coach this week and discussed how to open the match. "We've been a little up-and-down with starts," Long said. "It was much better today. We came out really well." What pleased Kalbas the most was the transition to singles, where he said several Tar Heels never let their opponents develop a rhythm and were able to cruise to straight-set victories. Anundsen attributed her 6-1, 6-2 triumph to her serve. "I've had a shoulder injury for a while, so every time I don't know how it will go," she said. "But it worked today." And so did the Tar Heels, who will now prepare for two battles against top ten teams this weekend - No. 6 Northwestern on Saturday and No. 2 Florida on Sunday. "This match was better than even a really good practice," Kalbas said. "It was a big confidence booster." Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.