North Carolina Team Page
CHAPEL HILL --- The No. 8 North Carolina women's tennis team opened its 2013 dual match campaign Wednesday with a pair of 7-0 wins over UNC Greensboro and Elon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. Carolina dropped just one set on the day as the Tar Heels moved to 2-0 ahead of Saturday's ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
Whitney Kay, Tessa Lyons, Ashley Dai and Laura Slater were double-winners in singles for UNC, who hosts Auburn, VCU and DePaul Saturday and Sunday for a spot in the ITA National Indoor Championships.
Lauren McHale teamed with Lyons at No. 1 doubles against UNCG (0-1) to post an 8-4 victory over Alex Whitehead and Niltooli Wilkins. Kay and fellow Georgia native Caroline Price bested Annette Rios and Kayla Gammie at No. 2 doubles. Kay then followed that win with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Whitehead at No. 3 singles to highlight the Carolina effort. In the marquee matchup of the day, Gina Suarez-Malaguti rallied from a pair of deficits in the opening set to best fellow senior Wilkins, 7-5, 6-0 on court one.
The Tar Heels were even more dominant against Elon in the nightcap, dropping just six games in doubles and sweeping all six singles matches in straight sets.
Kay took over at No. 1 singles against the Phoenix (0-1) and had no trouble dismissing Jordan Johnston, 6-4, 6-2. Freshman Kate Vialle made her dual-match debut on court five, defeating Barbara Lazarova, 6-0, 6-2, before Slater clinched the team win with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Bri Berne.
Carolina returns to Cone-Kenfield on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Auburn in the 2013 ITA Kick-Off Weekend. That match will follow VCU-DePaul at 10 a.m., with the winners facing off on Sunday for a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championshps Feb. 8-11 in Charlottesville, Va.
No. 8 North Carolina 7, UNC Greensboro 0
Doubles
1. Lauren McHale/Tessa Lyons (NC) def. Alex Whitehead/Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG) 8-4
2. Whitney Kay/Caroline Price (NC) def. Annette Rios/Kayla Gammie (UNCG) 8-2
3. Laura Slater/Kate Vialle (NC) def. Stephanie Falcon/Dilara Yurtkuran (UNCG) 7-4
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles
1. Gina Suarez-Malaguti (NC) def. Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG) 7-5, 6-0
2. Lauren McHale (NC) def. Dilara Yurtkuran (UNCG) 6-2, 7-5
3. Whitney Kay (NC) def. Alex Whitehead (UNCG) 6-0, 6-0
4. Tessa Lyons (NC) def. Annette Rios (UNCG) 6-4, 6-7, 12-10
5. Ashley Dai (NC) def. Soumeya Anane (UNCG) 6-1, 6-2
6. Laura Slater (NC) def. Stephanie Falcon (UNCG) 6-2, 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 6, 5, 1, 2, 4
No. 8 North Carolina 7, Elon 0
Doubles
1. McHale/Dai (UNC) def. Johnston/Jansaker (E), 8-3
2. Suarez-Malaguti/Vialle (UNC) def. Lazarova/Savreva (E), 8-2
3. Price/Slater (UNC) def. Khoury/Taylor Casey (E), 8-1
Singles
1. Whitney Kay (UNC) def. Jordan Johnston (E), 6-4, 6-2
2. Caroline Price (UNC) def. Frida Jansaker (E), 6-2, 6-4
3. Tessa Lyons (UNC) def. Viviana Stavreva (E), 6-2, 7-6 (1)
4. Ashley Dai (UNC) def. Bryn Khoury (E), 6-1, 6-1
5. Kate Vialle (UNC) def. Barbora Lazarova (E), 6-0, 6-2
6. Laura Slater (UNC) def. Bri Berne (E), 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 4, 5, 6, 2, 1, 3
