The North Carolina women’s tennis team traveled to Winston-Salem on Saturday for a late-morning matchup against the Wake Forest, with the goal of expanding their win streak to four matches. And the Tar Heels did just that, sweeping the Demon Deacons, 7-0.
What happened?
The Tar Heels got off to a strong start in doubles competition. Junior Cassandra Vasquez and first-year Alexa Graham quickly pulled away from Wake Forest first-year Chandler Carter and junior Courtney Meredith, and they scored an easy 6-1 victory in their set. Then UNC senior Hayley Carter and first-year Sara Daavettila defeated senior Kimmy Guerin and sophomore Anna Ulyashchenko, 6-2, which gave the Tar Heels a point in doubles competition and an early 1-0 lead.
Who stood out?
Carter and Graham proved once again to be a dominant force in doubles competition, but they both encountered struggles in singles play as their opponents, Guerin and sophomore Emma Davis, respectively, were able to provide a strong challenge for both of them. Their struggles allowed other Tar Heels to make a difference, as first-year Makenna Jones shut out her opponent with a 6-0, 6-0 straight-sets victory, while a 6-0 second-set win by sophomore Chloe Ouellet-Pizer gave the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead.
When was it decided?
The match point for the Tar Heels came down to Alexa Graham, who proceeded to shut out her opponent in both sets, which gave the Tar Heels the 4-0 lead needed to clinch the victory. The rest of the matches were played out, with Carter, Daavettila and sophomore Jessie Aney all scoring wins to give the Tar Heels a 7-0 win over the Demon Deacons.
Why does it matter?
The win over Wake Forest gave the Tar Heels their fourth consecutive sweep since losing to Georgia Tech at home on April 1. Wake Forest also served as North Carolina's final road opponent for the year. The Tar Heels were 14-1 away from Chapel Hill this season. The final three home matches of the season will serve as a challenge for the team as it prepares for the ACC Championship, which starts on April 26.
