After finishing with two wins in Chapel Hill over ACC opponents a weekend ago, the No. 3 North Carolina women’s tennis team had to go on the road this weekend to complete a similar task.
UNC started out the weekend with a visit to No. 16 Virginia on Friday afternoon for a match that proved to be an exciting one.
The Tar Heels (14-2, 4-0 ACC) had no trouble in doubles to capture the early 1-0 lead. The top-ranked pairing of junior Hayley Carter and senior Whitney Kay cruised over the Cavaliers' 23rd-ranked doubles duo for the 6-1 win on Court No. 1 to set the tone, while senior Kate Vialle and first-year Jessie Aney clinched a 6-3 doubles win on Court No. 2.
Virginia (8-4, 4-1 ACC) was able to level the playing field, as No. 18 Julia Elbaba defeating Kay 6-1, 6-0 in the first singles match. However, Aney quickly responded with a 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory in her match. After sophomore Cassandra Vasquez fell short, the Cavaliers once again regained momentum.
Once again, the Tar Heels were able to respond. Carter battled for a win over No. 3 Danielle Collins in a 7-6 (5), 6-3 match to give UNC the lead. But when first-year Chloe Ouellet-Pizer was ousted in two sets, the outcome of the match rested on Vialle.
Vialle began the final match of the day with a 6-3 loss in the opening set. But the senior bounced back to take the second set 6-1 and carried the momentum into a 7-5 win in the third and final set to give the Tar Heels a 4-3 victory over Virginia.
Sunday proved to be an easier challenge for the Tar Heels in Pittsburgh.
North Carolina once again took the 1-0 lead after a doubles victory. And in singles, Aney won her match to give the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead.
Pittsburgh (5-3, 1-3) followed with a win, but UNC earned three wins from Carter, Vialle and Ouellet-Pizer to close the match with a 5-2 victory to remain undefeated in ACC play.
