No. 2 North Carolina Knock Off SC State In NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament

Senior Maria Craciun

CHAPEL HILL --- The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs ended their season with a 4-0 defeat to No.2 North Carolina Friday in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship held at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
        The Lady Tar Heels advance to the second round for the 13^th consecutive season and will face Tennessee on Saturday at 11 a.m. for a spot in the NCAA round of 16.
        UNC (26-3) dropped just six games in a dominant doubles point to take the early lead. No. 58 Kay and Caroline Price were 8-4 winners over Craciun/Dohnalova on court one before Lyons and Gina Suarez-Malaguti finished their 8-0 victory over Bosneag/Khatcei on court three.
         "Any time your last match is a loss you are eager to get back on the court," head coach Brian Kalbas said after the win. "I was proud of the focus we came out with after being off for a few weeks."
        The Tar Heels took the opening set on all six singles courts from the MEAC champion Lady Bulldogs (17-5). No. 39 Kay actually dropped two of the first three games of her match against freshman Klara Dohnalova before winning the final 11 games in dominant fashion to score a 6-2, 6-0 victory on court three.
         UNC will face SEC at-large selection Tennessee in Saturday's second round. The No. 31-ranked Lady Vols, who are 13-11 on the season, defeated Atlantic-10 champion VCU, 4-0, in Friday's first match.
No. 2 North Carolina 4, South Carolina State 0
Doubles
1. #58 Caroline Price/Whitney Kay (UNC) def. Maria Craciun/Klara Dohnalova (SCSU), 8-4
2. Lauren McHale/Laura Slater (UNC) led Katarina Barborikova/Kateryna Nakonechna (SCSU), 7-2, DNF
3. Gina Suarez-Malaguti/Tessa Lyons (UNC) def. Laura Bosneag/Victoriia Khatcei (SCSU), 8-0
Order of finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. #7 Gina Suarez-Malaguti (UNC) led Maria Craciun (SCSU), 6-3, 1-2, DNF
2. #49 Zoe De Bruycker (UNC) def. Katarina Barborikova (SCSU), 6-2, 6-0
3. #39 Whitney Kay (UNC) def. Klara Dohnalova (SCSU), 6-2, 6-0
4. Lauren McHale (UNC) led Kateryna Nakonechna (SCSU), 6-0, 1-2, DNF
5. Kate Vialle (UNC) led Victoriia Khatcei (SCSU), 6-1, 5-3, DNF
6. Tessa Lyons (UNC) def. Laura Bosneag (SCSU), 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 2, 6

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