Caroline Price bound for ITA national championships after strong weekend performance

She had been here before.

She had fallen victim to the tiebreaker more than she cared to recall. She was all too familiar with the agony of coming so close but falling short of success.

And when she found herself trailing in yet another key moment, Caroline Price knew she needed to spark a furious rally to avoid a similar fate.

That’s exactly what she did.

Down 2-0 in a seven-point tiebreaker on Monday, the UNC senior stormed back to score seven straight points on her way to a 6-4, 7-6(2) victory over Clemson’s Joana Eidukonyte to claim the singles title in the ITA Carolinas Women’s Tennis Regional.

“I have lost a lot of tiebreakers, especially last year and especially at big moments,” Price said. “This year, my goal was if I get in a tiebreaker, I’m gonna win it.”

Not only did she win — she dominated. Price controlled the singles draw from the start, not dropping a set the entire tournament.

Even when she fell behind early in the opening set of the finals, Price remained resilient and determined in securing the title.

“She got down 3-0 and was kind of distracted and not focused, and then rallied off five straight games,” Coach Brian Kalbas said. “She just stayed really tough — mentally strong and physically strong.”

Price’s control of her emotion was pivotal in reversing past misfortunes.

“She wears her heart on her sleeve,” Kalbas said. “Sometimes when she gets down, she gets frustrated and she lets it affect her, but today she didn’t.”

As the team’s lone senior, Price played with a greater sense of fire and passion than usual, knowing this could be her last chance to shine.

“I have nothing to lose, because I can’t ever come back,” she said. “I was kind of emotional this tournament, but I just decided the very first match that I was just going to try to have fun and enjoy getting to play tennis, because I don’t know if I’ll be able to play after or not.”

The tournament win guaranteed Price her first chance to compete in the ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in November, which she was keenly aware of.

“I knew you have to win (regionals),” she said. “For most people, that’s a lot of pressure, but it pushes me even more. I like to rise to the occasion.”

Price wasn’t the only Tar Heel to claim a qualifying spot. Juniors Ashley Dai and Kate Vialle gave UNC the clean sweep by winning the doubles title 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(5) against South Carolina’s Hadley Berg and Elixane Lechemia.

Monday’s victories mean five members of the women’s team will be represented in the indoor nationals, with sophomores Hayley Carter and Jamie Loeb previously qualifying.

“A lot of the teams really don’t respect us the way that they should, so I think this is huge to show up to indoor nationals with five girls,” she said. “That just shows everyone that we’re coming for them.”

sports@dailytarheel.com