April 6, 2018
NOTRE DAME, Indiana — The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team (10-9, 2-7 ACC) battled top-ranked North Carolina (19-2, 8-1 ACC) in a 1-6 loss at the Eck Tennis Pavilion on Friday, April 6, 2018.
The afternoon was highlighted by the Notre Dame doubles team of Cameron Corse and Zoe Spence knocking off North Carolina’s top-ranked duo of Jessie Aney and Alexa Graham 6-3 at number one doubles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish started strong right out of the gate in the doubles matches. Notre Dame’s top team of Corse and Spence jumped out to a 2-1 lead on the top-ranked North Carolina duo.
Over at number three doubles, Rachel Chong and Bess Waldram cruised to a 6-1 win over Maggie Kane and Cassandra Vazquez from the visiting squad.
Corse and Spence eventually finished off the No. 1 doubles team in the nation 6-3 to earn Notre Dame the doubles point.
Brooke Broda and Allison Miller were locked in a 3-4 battle with UNC’s Makenna Jones and Chloe Ouellet-Pizer when their match was ended.
North Carolina claimed the first victory in the singles competition at number two with No. 76 Alexa Graham defeating Brooke Broda 6-2, 6-2.
While the Tar Heels were able to win the first set of each singles match, it was not without battles at three, four and five. Zoe Spence took No. 27 Sara Daavettila to a first set tiebreaker before falling 7-6 (7-2).
No. 14 Makenna Jones earned the second singles victory of the match for North Carolina, holding off Allison Miller 6-1, 6-4. That Tar Heel victory was followed by Chloe Ouellet-Pizer’s 6-3, 6-4 win over Rachel Chong at number five singles.
With the top-ranked Tar Heels up 3-2 in the match, the outcome was far from decided. The Irish were in the third set at number six singles, even in the second set at number three singles and up 6-5 in the second set at number four.
Daavettila’s win at number three ended the drama, but the Irish fought to the end at number four and number six. Corse won the second set over UNC’s Jesse Aney 7-6 and moved to a super tiebreaker, eventually falling 12-10.
At number six, Ally Bojczuk battled back from a 6-2 first set loss to get the second 6-4, but UNC’s Marika Akkerman completed the singles matches sweep with a 6-3 third-set win.
HEAD COACH Jay Louderback
On the team’s battle throughout the matchââ’¬¦
“I feld we made it a tight match after winning the doubles point. We were right there with them the whole time.”
On the number one doubles victoryââ’¬¦
“We have been playing really well at number one doubles. We were right there with Georgia Tech last week when their team was ranked number one. They have showed in the past two weeks that can play with the top teams in the nation.”
North Carolina vs Notre Dame
Apr 06, 2018 at Notre Dame, IN
(Eck Tennis Pavilion)
#1 North Carolina 6, Notre Dame 1
Singles competition
- #14 Makenna Jones (NC) def. Allison Miller (NDW) 6-1, 6-4
- #76 Alexa Graham (NC) def. Brooke Broda (NDW) 6-2, 6-2
- #27 Sara Daavettila (NC) def. Zoe Spence (NDW) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
- #71 Jessie Aney (NC) def. Cameron Corse (NDW) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (12-10)
- Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (NC) def. Rachel Chong (NDW) 6-4, 6-3
- Marika Akkerman (NC) def. Ally Bojczuk (NDW) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
- Cameron Corse/Zoe Spence (NDW) def. #1 Jessie Aney/Alexa Graham (NC) 6-3
- Makenna Jones/Chloe Ouellet-Pizer (NC) def. Brooke Broda/Allison Miller (NDW) 4-3
- Rachel Chong/Bess Waldram (NDW) def. Maggie Kane/Cassandra Vazquez (NC) 6-1
Match Notes:
North Carolina 18-2; National ranking #1
Notre Dame 10-8
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,5,3,6,4)