No. 14 Deacs Drop Closely Contested Match to No. 1 Tar Heels

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 14 Wake Forest women's tennis team dropped a tightly contested 6-1 match to No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

The Demon Deacons (9-4, 1-3 ACC) got the day off to a fast start in doubles action. The Tar Heels (17-0, 4-0), who had yet to lose in doubles play this season, jumped out to an early lead with a win in the No. 1 doubles match.

Carolyn Campana and Chandler Carter answered right back with a win in the No. 2 doubles match. They grabbed their highest ranked victory of the season, defeating No. 15 Jones and Sanford, 6-3. Moments later in the No. 3 match, Saby Nihalani and Anna Brylin closed out the No. 3 doubles match, 6-4.

It gave Wake Forest momentum heading into singles play. In the opening frame, Carolyn Campana, Anna Campana and Saby Nihalani all jumped out to early leads as Wake just needed three points to knock off the nation's top-ranked team.

Carolyn Campana and Nihalani went on to grab the opening sets in each of their matches with both in search of their highest ranked wins of the season.

North Carolina closed out the other four singles matches in straight sets, winning the match on court five.

Both Carolyn Campana and Nihalani's matches would head to a third set. There the Tar Heels took the early advantage in each match. Nihalani nearly fought her way back against No. 52 Jones before dropping the third set, 1-0 (10-7).

Campana nearly knocked off No. 3 ranked Graham in the No. 1 singles match. The third set was back and forth throughout. After coming back to tie the third at 10-10, it looked as though Campana had seized momentum in the match.

Graham was able to close it out just four points later to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (13-11).

Quotable:
"It was a good effort. We played a much needed and quality doubles point. We pushed every first set in singles to four or better, but only pulled out 2 of them. Credit to North Carolina, they showed why they've been the No. 1 team in the country to this point." - Coach Jeff Wyshner

Singles Results vs. No. 1 North Carolina
No. 3 Graham def. No. 19 Carolyn Campana – 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (13-11)
No. 5 Daavettila def. No. 100 Eliza Omirou – 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 Morra def. Anna Campana – 6-4, 6-2
No. 52 Jones def. Saby Nihalani – 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
No. 51 Sanford def. Chandler Carter – 7-5, 6-4
Yarlagadda def. MC Meredith – 6-4, 6-4

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 1

Doubles Results vs. No. 1 North Carolina
No. 4 Graham / Daavettila def. No. 9 Eliza Omirou / MC Meredith – 6-0
Carolyn Campana / Chandler Carter vs. No. 15 Jones / Sanford – 6-3
Saby Nihalani / Anna Brylin def. Morra / Harvey – 6-4

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

Up Next
Before being back on home court next Sunday against Notre Dame, the Demon Deacons travel to Boston College for a 2 p.m. (ET) tilt against the Eagles.

No. 14 Deacs Drop Closely Contested Match to No. 1 Tar Heels

Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Anna Brylin

Anna Campana

Carolyn Campana

Chandler Carter

MC Meredith

Saby Nihalani

Eliza Omirou