The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

No. 2 UNC women's tennis just misses 2019 ITA National Championship

Women's Tennis vs VCU Makenna Jones
Junior Makenna Jones returns a volley against her opponent from Virginia Commonweatlh University on Jan. 26, 2019.

The No. 2 North Carolina women’s tennis team fell just short of winning back-to-back ITA National Women's Tennis Team Indoor Championships Tuesday, losing to top-ranked Georgia, 4-3.

The Tar Heels have made it to the championship game in each of the last five years, but have only come out victorious in two of them, 2015 and 2018.  

“Moments like today are tough when we fought so hard, but we have to experience a loss together. I think it’s good to move forward as a team and experience adversity,” first-year Cameron Morra said.

Until losing to the Bulldogs (7-0), UNC hadn't had many struggles against top competition. Starting on Friday, the Tar Heels (9-1) stormed through a sweep of No. 14 Oklahoma State, took down No. 8 UCLA 4-1 on Sunday, then ran through No. 4 Duke in the semifinals on Monday, 4-0. 

After breezing through the first three rounds, the championship was much more of a challenge. But the Tar Heels started strong, staying undefeated in doubles competition in the tournament to take an early 1-0 lead. 

Following the doubles point, Georgia came back and won two straight on Courts Five and Six to go up 2-1 and took back the advantage. The fifth and sixth Bulldogs were the only singles players to win in two sets, taking down Alle Sanford and Jessie Aney, respectively. 

 Then, No. 7 Alexa Graham on Court Three tied the match again at 2-2, staying unbeaten in the tournament by winning 6-0, 5-7, 6-2. Her victory proved a win wouldn't come easy for either team the rest of the way. 

UNC and Georgia split the next two matches, with No. 20 Morra losing on Court Four and Sara Daavettila winning a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) match on Court Two.

Georgia eventually sealed the deal as both teams' top players battled it out in three sets. 

UNC's No. 6 Makenna Jones took the first set, winning 7-6 (3). In the second set, No. 2 Katarina Jokic tied it up with an equally close 7-5 win. Jokic narrowly defeated Jones in the last set, 7-6 (2), to lock up the championship.

After a third loss in the championship game, senior Jessie Aney had encouraging words for her younger teammates after a deflating defeat. 

“For the younger players, all you can say is that you’re proud of them and can’t wait to see what they can do with their many opportunities to come. They should feel like they made an opportunity, not missed one,” she said.

Players say the positivity comes from head coach Brian Kalbas, who inspires his team to stick to its winning culture. 

“We go into the tournament every year with a lot of confidence. I think that’s something that Brian instills in us when we get here, you know, we’re UNC tennis, this is our culture, we’re a winning program, we’re a program that competes for one another win or lose,” Aney said.

Even in a loss, Kalbas said his team isn't discouraged, and that the Tar Heels are a close-knit group and he was proud of their play. 

“They’re competitors, never give up. They have tremendous will and desire, grit, determination and chemistry. It’s so special that they want to do well for each other,” Kalbas said. 

Kalbas is optimistic about the season ahead as well as what can be learned from the loss as the team heads into the spring season. 

Heading into the rest of the campaign, especially facing stout ACC competition, this experience will be one to look back on and remember. 

“It’s almost the start of a new season. Let’s build up again and see how much better we can get,” Aney said. 

@andrewmontross | @DTHSports

sports@dailytarheel.com

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.