Michigan
North Carolina
Michigan's Upset Bid of No. 2 North Carolina Falls Short
2/24/2019 3:47:00 PM | Women's Tennis
» Kate Fahey posted a straight sets victory over UNC's Sara Daavettila at No. 1 singles.
» Avila Jones upset 122nd-ranked Alle Sanford, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 5 to even the match at two apiece.
» Before the match was abandoned at No. 1 doubles, Fahey and Giulia Pairone held a 5-2 lead over the Tar Heels' fourth-ranked doubles team in the nation.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Result: #2 North Carolina 5, #27 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (4-2, 1-0 Big Ten), UNC (13-1, 1-0 ACC)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 1 -- vs. Baylor (Varsity Tennis Center), 5 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 27th-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team was unable to pull the upset, falling 5-2 to second-ranked North Carolina at the Varsity Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 24). The Wolverines (4-2) pushed the Tar Heels (13-1) to the limit in both doubles and singles but were unable to come away with the team victory.
North Carolina claimed the doubles point to grab a 1-0 lead in the match. The 16th-ranked pairing of Alexa Graham and Jessie Aney won 6-1 at No. 2 to start the doubles action. The Tar Heels' Alle Sanford and Sara Daavettila secured the team point by defeating sophomore Bella Lorenzini and junior Chiara Lommer by a score of 6-3 at No. 3. UNC's tandem at No. 3 won the point at deuce on back-to-back games when the score was tied, 3-3, gaining a 5-3 advantage and securing the victory.
The final doubles match on the court was abandoned after North Carolina secured the point with Michigan senior Kate Fahey and junior Giulia Pairone holding a 5-2 lead over fourth-ranked Makenna Jones and Cameron Morra at No. 1.
Michigan looked to rally in singles against North Carolina but was unable to come away with the necessary points needed for victory as the Tar Heels won four singles matches. The singles featured four matches with nationally ranked players facing off at the top four spots.
Eight-ranked Fahey grabbed the Wolverines' first point of the match with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over sixth-ranked Sara Daavettila at the top singles spot. The Tar Heels regained the lead shortly thereafter, 2-1, as Jessie Aney scored a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Lorenzini at No. 6. Michigan proceeded to tie the score at two apiece as sophomore Alyvia Jones defeated 122nd-ranked Alle Sanford by a 6-3, 6-3 score at No. 5.
UNC proceeded to win the remaining three matches on the court to secure the victory. Fifth-ranked Alexa Graham posted a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over senior Brienne Minor, who is ranked 31st nationally in singles. The clinching match for the Tar Heels came at No. 2, with second-ranked Makenna Jones defeating 85th-ranked Pairone by a 7-6(6), 6-1 score. The two teams finished out the match at No. 4 as 27th-ranked Cameron Morra defeated 21st-ranked Lommer, 7-6(3), 6-2.
U-M will look to rebound from today's setback as it closes out a five-match homestand next Friday (March 1), hosting Baylor at the Varsity Tennis Center starting at 5 p.m.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 8 Kate Fahey (U-M) d. No. 6 Sara Daavettila (UNC), 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 -- No. 2 Makenna Jones (UNC) d. No. 85 Giulia Pairone (U-M), 7-6(6), 6-1
No. 3 -- No. 5 Alexa Graham (UNC) d. No. 31 Brienne Minor (U-M), 6-4, 7-6(3)
No. 4 -- No. 27 Cameron Morra (UNC) d. No. 21 Chiara Lommer (U-M), 7-6(3), 6-2
No. 5 -- Alyvia Jones (U-M) d. No. 122 Alle Sanford (UNC), 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 -- Jessie Aney (UNC) d. Bella Lorenzini (U-M), 6-0, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- Kate Fahey/Giulia Pairone (U-M) vs. No. 4 Makenna Jones/Cameron Morra (UNC), 5-2; abandoned
No. 2 -- No. 16 Alexa Graham/Jessie Aney (UNC) d. Alyvia Jones/Brienne Minor (U-M), 6-1
No. 3 -- Alle Sanford/Sara Daavettila (UNC) d. Bella Lorenzini/Chiara Lommer (U-M), 6-3
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-3, Singles 1-6-5-3-2-4.
Players Mentioned
