Virginia Opens ACC Women's Tennis Tournament with 4-2 Win Over NC State
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April 19, 2007
CARY, N.C. – The Virginia women’s tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2007 ACC Tournament with a 4-2 victory over No. 37 NC State in a first round match Thursday morning at the Cary Tennis Center. The eighth-seeded Cavaliers (11-10) will face No. 1 seed Clemson on Friday.
“I am really happy for our team,” head coach Mark Guilbeau said. “We are doing what we can to make sure this season finishes better than it started. We needed this win today to help our NCAA Tournament chances, and I think we are at a point where we should be in.”
The Wolfpack (13-10) opened the match by taking the doubles point. NC State opened up big leads in all three courts and picked up wins at No. 3 and No. 1 doubles to take the point.
“We just need to come out stronger at the start of the match,” Guilbeau said. “We lost the first seven games over the three courts and you can’t start much more poorly than that. The reality is after that we almost came back to win the point. I told the team that you have to take a positive that if we start strong in singles and play like we can, we can win this match.”
In singles, the comeback began quickly, as the match was soon tied at 1-1. Jennifer Stevens (Miami, Fla.) topped No. 94 Daria Petrovic 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 singles to even the match. NC State retook the lead, 2-1, as Alejandra Guerra defeated Kristen McVitty (Woodland Hills, Calif.) 6-0, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. The Cavaliers drew even, 2-2, as Lindsey Pereira (Arlington, Texas) defeated Julia Roach 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 4 position. Virginia took the 3-2 lead as Brintney Larson (Orchard Park, N.Y.) defeated Berkeley Brock 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. The final point was secured by Caroline Hammond (Williamsburg, Va.), who defeated Neils Barringer 7-6(2), 6-4 at No. 6 singles. The win was Hammond’s 30th singles win of the season, tying the school record for wins in a season set by Alison Cohen in 1993 and 1994.
“I was really proud with the fight in this team,” said Guilbeau. “We had our backs against the wall, but refused to quit. Give NC State a lot of credit, they are a great team and made us earn everything we won today.”
The Cavaliers will meet Clemson in the quarterfinals on Friday. Match time is slated for 9 a.m. at the Cary Tennis Center.
No. 47 Virginia 4, No. 37 NC State 2
Doubles:
1. Petrovic/Guerra (NCSU) def. Hammond/Alexander (UVa) 8-6
2. McVitty/Stevens (UVa) led Green/Roach (NCSU) 8-7 DNF
3. Brock/Bleakley (NCSU) def. Pereira/Rales (UVa) 8-6
Singles:
1. Jennifer Stevens (UVa) def. #94 Daria Petrovic (NCSU) 6-0, 6-2
2. Alejandra Guerra (NCSU) def. Kristen McVitty (UVa) 6-0, 6-4
3. Brintney Larson (UVa) def. Berkeley Brock (NCSU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Lindsey Pereira (UVa) def. Julia Roach (NCSU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Amanda Rales (UVa) led Kate Green (NCSU) 4-6, 6-2, 2-1 DNF
6. Caroline Hammond (UVa) def. Neils Barringer (NCSU) 7-6(2), 6-4