North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Maryland
Pack Rolls Over No. 30 Maryland, 5-2
4/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 16, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. - Saturday represented a return to form for NC State’s two ranked players, Sanaa Bhambri and Sandhya Nagaraj, as the Pack cruised past 30th-ranked Maryland 5-2 at Isenhour Tennis Center.
Bhambri and Nagaraj had not gone 3-0 while playing as the top two singles and the number one doubles team since a March 19 victory over 72nd-ranked Wisconsin.
Against Maryland, the pair found some momentum heading into the ACC Tournament and beyond by completing the afternoon undefeated and scoring two ranked wins.
"I think the team really came together as a whole today," said NC State head coach Hans Olsen. "We had great effort throughout the lineup and it showed. That's how we came away with the win. Sandhya [Nagaraj] and Sanaa [Bhambri] in particular played with a lot of focus and aggressiveness. They attacked the net in doubles and gave us three big wins."
As the 30th-ranked team in the nation, Bhambri and Nagaraj made short work of 21st-ranked Cristina Sanchez and Jordaan Sanford, upsetting the pair 8-2. The Pack dropped the next two doubles decisions, conceding the point to the visiting Terrapins .
In singles, 85th-ranked Nagaraj set the tone by dispatching Jordaan Sanford in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-2. 30th-ranked Bhambri followed shortly after, prevailing in three sets 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 over 31st-ranked Cristina Sanchez.
In between those results, freshman Joelle Kissell scored another win, claiming a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Welma Luus. On the year, Kissell moves to 6-3 at number four, and 16-4 overall, good for a team-leading winning percentage of .800 in singles competition.
Tatiana Illova clinched the match for the Wolfpack (13-7, 4-6 ACC) with a three-set win over Ana Belzunce 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Freshman Tanvi Shah made her ACC debut in singles with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Jordan Hansbrough. Shah improves to 2-1 on her career.
Saturday’s match included a 45-minute delay due to tornado warnings in the Raleigh area from 3:40 p.m. to 4:25 p.m.
NC State returns to action Sunday, April 17 at noon against Boston College, tentatively scheduled for Pullen Park. Senior Day festivities will take place prior to the match. Live stats and a full recap will be available at GoPack.com.
RESULTS
#33 NC State 5, #30 Maryland 2
Singles
1. #30 Sanaa Bhambri def. #31 Cristina Sanchez 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
2. #85 Sandhya Nagaraj def. Jordaan Sanford 6-4, 6-2
3. Tatiana Illova def. Ana Belzunce 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
4. Joelle Kissell def. Welma Luus 6-4, 6-1
5. Cristina Stancy def. Lenka Hojckova 7-6 (7-1), 3-2 ret.
6. Tanvi Shah def. Jordan Hansbrough 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1. #30 Bhambri/Nagaraj def. #21 Sanchez/Sanford 8-2
2. Luus/Belzunce def. Hojckova/Illova 8-3
3. Hansbrough/Stancy def. Kissell/Miller 8-5
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*; 2, 4, 1, 3*, 5, 6
