The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
North Carolina - NCAA Second Round
Women's Tennis Ends Season in NCAA Second Round
5/14/2017 | Women's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a match that was much closer than the final score, the Ole Miss women's tennis team dropped a tight doubles point at No. 2 North Carolina, but battled in singles before the Tar Heels came away with a 4-1 win in the NCAA second round, Sunday at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
Doubles was hotly-contested with UNC's No. 4 ranked team of Hayley Carter and Jessie Aney edging No. 21 ranked Arianne Hartono and Alexa Bortles 7-5 at No. 1. Anna Vrbenska and Tea Jandric earned a 6-4 win on court three, sending all eyes to court two to decide the point. Natalie Suk and Zalina Khairudinova dropped a tiebreaker, 7-6(3), to Sara Daavettila and Makenna Jones as North Carolina took the 1-0 lead.
Each team won three first sets in sinegles. The Tar Heels increased their lead to 3-0 with straight set wins on courts six and three, but the Rebels would not go away quietly. They kept battling, winning first sets on courts 1, 2 and 4, including two tiebreakers.
Suk earned a big win, defeating No. 18 Daavettila 7-6(6), 6-2 at No. 2 singles, but that would be it for the Rebels.
Hartono, ranked No. 27, took the first set off of No. 2 Carter, but the Tar Heel rallied to win 6-0, 6-3 to clinch the 4-1 victory. Carter has not lost at No. 1 singles this year and was named ACC Player of the Year.
When play was stopped, Vrbenska was beginning a third set on court four, and Tea Jandric was trying to extend her match on court five.
At the net…
• The Rebels are now 15-14 on the year
• The Rebels are now 22-20 all-time in the NCAA Championships
• This Rebels reached the second round for the 14th time in 19 appearances
• Natalie Suk beat the No. 18 ranked player, her fourth ranked win of the year
• Anna Vrbenska and Tea Jandric improved to 3-0 at No. 3 doubles
Complete results
Doubles
1. #4 Carter/Aney (UNC) def. #21 Bortles/Hartono (OM) 7-5
2. Daavettila/Jones (UNC) def. Suk/Khairudinova (OM) 7-6(3)
3. Vrbenska/Jandric (OM) def. James-Baker/Ouellet-Pizer (UNC) 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. #2 Hayley Carter (UNC) def. #27 Arianne Hartono (OM) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
2. Natalie Suk (OM) def. #18 Sara Daavettila (UNC) 7-6(6), 6-2
3. #35 Jessie Aney (UNC) def. Zalina Khairudinova (OM) 6-3, 6-2
4. Anna Vrbenska (OM) vs. #74 Alexa Graham (UNC) 7-6(7), 3-6, sus.
5. Tea Jandric (OM) vs. #100 Makenna Jones (UNC) 4-6, 5-6, sus.
6. Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (UNC) def. Alexa Bortles (OM) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 2, 1
Thoughts from head coach Mark Beyers...
"It was a great battle against one of the top teams in the country. We had our opportunities in doubles but ended up losing a tiebreaker in the deciding match. We had similar battles in singles, with each team winning three first sets. A great win for Nat against the No. 18 ranked player in the country. Arianne went toe-to-toe with the top player in the country, but in the end she came up just a little short. Exciting future for this team with just one senior."
Up next…
Arianne Hartono will compete in the NCAA Singles Championship and the doubles with Alexa Bortles, beginning May 24 in Athens, Georgia.
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis. Also follow Coach Beyers on Twitter, @MarkBeyers.
Players Mentioned
