East Carolina University
North Carolina
Top-Ranked North Carolina Powers Past Pirates, 4-0
March 07, 2015 | Women's Tennis
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North Carolina, currently the top-ranked women's squad in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll, garnered the doubles point by a 12-4 count and produced straight-set singles wins at the top of the lineup to secure a 4-0 non-conference victory over East Carolina at the Halton-Wagner Tennis Complex Saturday morning.
The loss marked snapped a three-match win streak for the Pirates and dropped their spring record to 9-3. The Tar Heels remained perfect in 2015, upping their mark to 14-0.
North Carolina jumped out to an early 1-0 edge by using 6-1 and 6-3 triumphs at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles slots, respectively. Jamie Loeb and Caroline Price held Michelle Castro and Nicole LaDuca in check before Hayley Carter and Whitney Kay clinched the opening point by dismissing Dana Gray and Neena Wanko.
The Tar Heels continued their strong showing in singles action by only surrendering a combined 10 games in the first three positions to claim the remaining three tallies. Loeb downed LaDuca 6-3, 6-1 in a No. 1 meeting before Carter and Price added 6-2, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-2 wins over Castro and Maria Gomez at No. 2 and No. 3.
ECU's Sarah Sarjoo captured the opening set 6-3 and was leading 4-3 in the second stanza against Cassandra Vazquez in a No. 4 battle before the match was discontinued. Wanko, playing in the No. 6 position, also took the opener 6-2 versus Maggie Kane before action was halted once UNC reached its fourth and deciding point.
The Pirates will play the second of nine consecutive road matches Monday when they face UCF in Orlando for an American Conference clash. First serve is scheduled for 12 noon.
NO. 1 NORTH CAROLINA 4, EAST CAROLINA 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jamie Loeb (UNC) def. Nicole LaDuca (ECU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 - Hayley Carter (UNC) def. Michelle Castro (ECU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 - Caroline Price (UNC) def. Maria Gomez (ECU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 - Cassandra Vazquez (UNC) vs. Sarah Sarjoo (ECU) 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
No. 5 - Marika Akkerman (UNC) vs. Katie Hoch (ECU) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
No. 6 - Maggie Kane (UNC) vs. Neena Wanko (ECU) 2-6, 3-3, unfinished
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Loeb/Price (UNC) def. Castro/LaDuca (ECU) 6-1
No. 2 - Ashley Dai/Kate Vialle (UNC) vs. Gomez/Wanko (ECU) 5-2, unfinished
No. 3 - Carter/Whitney Kay (UNC) def. Dana Gray/Hoch (ECU) 6-3
Team Records: East Carolina 9-3, North Carolina 14-0
Players Mentioned
