North Carolina women’s tennis players Sara Daavettila and Makenna Jones traveled out west to compete in the Oracle ITA Masters on Sept. 20-23; however, their trip was cut short when both juniors lost in the second round.
What happened?
UNC opened the fall tennis season on Thursday, Sept. 20, with Daavettila and Jones competing in the first round of singles at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Ca.
“It was good getting back into matches,” Jones said. “I try to compete at my best and have fun with it.”
Jones, the No. 2 seed, came out swinging in the first set of match one with a 6-2 victory. The junior eventually defeated Long Island Brooklyn’s Anna Grigoryan 6-3 in the second set, earning her way into the second round of ITA Masters.
No. 27 Daavettila fought her way through the first round as well, beating Furman’s Katarina Kozaro 6-4, 6-2.
The second round, though, proved to be a challenge for the two Tar Heels. Jones quickly fell behind after losing the first set 6-4. Despite sending the second set into a tiebreak, she fell 7-6 (4) to USC first-year Salma Ewing. Daavettila faced the same problem, falling 7-6 (4), 6-2 to UCLA first-year Elysia Bolton.
Who stood out?
Both juniors stood out for their resiliency in the second round — even though things ended with a loss. Despite coming home to North Carolina with an early loss, their grit showed as they battled in different sets to 7-6.
