The No. 3 North Carolina women’s tennis team (2-0) had a strong start to their 2019 campaign, sweeping their season-opening doubleheader on Saturday to earn two convincing wins at home. The Tar Heels defeated Elon by a score of 6-1 and defeated UNC Charlotte in a 4-0 shutout.
What happened?
In the Tar Heels' first match against Elon, all of their singles victories were decided in straight sets. Makenna Jones, Cameron Morra, Alle Sanford, Jessie Aney, and Chloe Ouellet-Pizer all won their matches decisively; Sophia Patel suffered the only singles loss, a 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 nailbiter. The Tar Heels won two of three doubles matches by scores of 6-0 and 6-2 to clinch the doubles point, with the third match going unfinished.
The team continued its momentum into the second match. The Tar Heels shut out the 49ers of UNC Charlotte in their singles matches, 3-0. Three more singles matched were left unfinished. One doubles match would also go unfinished, as UNC won two of three doubles matches to finish undefeated for the day in doubles.
Who stood out?
Jones impressed against Elon; she failed to drop a point and quickly wrapped up a singles victory in straight sets. She also did not cede a point in her doubles match, earning a decisive win with partner Cameron Morra, a first-year. The duo is coming off a 2018 season in which they were ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation.
Along with Morra, sophomore Alle Sanford and senior Jessie Aney were the only Tar Heels to play in singles and doubles matches against both opponents. They each made the most out of their opportunity, winning both of their singles matches. They also took both of their doubles matches as partners.
When was it decided?
In their match against Elon, the Lady Tar Heels got out to a quick 2-0 start after Sanford’s victory. They never looked back, taking five of the six games.
