Fast start leads No. 1 UNC women's tennis past Boston College, 5-2

The No.1 North Carolina women’s tennis team won 5-2 against Boston College on Friday, improving its season record to 13-1.  

What happened?

The Tar Heels took an early lead after winning two out of three double matches.  

To begin the competition, No. 9 doubles partners Jessie Aney and Alexa Graham took an early, 3-1 lead over the Eagles and never looked back. They would go on to win, 6-2.  

On court two, No.20 Sara Daavettila and Alle Sanford clinched the doubles point. The players rallied back from a 3-1 deficit, winning two straight games to even the Eagles, 3-3.  After tying it up, they rallied to win three straight games to beat the Eagles, 6-3.

Since the Tar Heels won two doubles matches, Makenna Jones and Marika Akkerman's match went unfinished.

Heading into individual play, the Tar Heels had a 1-0 doubles point lead.  

In individual play, the Tar Heels kept their momentum, going winning the opening set in all six matches.  

No.93 Graham won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 to give UNC its second point.  No. 28 Daavettila would also win in straight sets (6-4, 6-0) to give the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead over the Eagles.  

Now, North Carolina only needed one more point to clinch the victory over Boston College.  

On Court Five, Chloe Ouellet-Pizer won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2.  With that win, she gave the Tar Heels a 4-0 lead and clinched the victory. 

Three individual matches were still undecided, even though UNC had already won. On Court Two, No.15 Jones had a 5-3 lead over her opponent. Although her opponent rallied back to even it at 5-5,  Jones won the next two games and won, 7-5. Unlike the first set, Jones faced a 3-0 deficit early in the second set but rallied back. 

The only two Tar Heels who lost individual matches were Sanford and Akkerman. After a quick 6-3 win in the first set, Sanford would lose in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6.  Akkerman, who also had a quick start and won 6-1, she would ultimately lose in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5.  

Who stood out?

No.93 Graham had a victory over Jackie Urbinati in two straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

Graham would also win alongside doubles partner No. 32 Aney. That pair is ranked ninth in the country in doubles play.  

No. 28 Daavettila also won in singles and doubles. Although she did not play in a doubles match, Ouellet-Pizer still stood out with a quick two-set win.  

When was it decided?

The Tar Heels never looked back after a great start.  After earning the doubles point and a 1-0 lead, the Tar Heels would go on to win four out of six individual matches.  

After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Tar Heels needed only one more win to clinch the point and the victory.  With three individual matches still taking place, Ouellet-Pizer was able to secure the victory.  

Why does it matter?

After losing its first match of the season against No.4 Vanderbilt, UNC was able to get off to a fast start against the Eagles and secure a victory in its second ACC match.  

When do they play next?

North Carolina will be back in action on Sunday, playing Syracuse at 10 a.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.  

@TorreNetkovick

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com