NC State
VCU
Pack Advances with Shutout Win
5/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 14, 2011
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - 25th-ranked NC State women's tennis advanced to the regional final with a 4-0 dismantling of 37th-ranked VCU at the Boar's Head Club Saturday.
"I'm excited. We faced a tough matchup and a good test today," said NC State head coach Hans Olsen. "[VCU]'s a strong team. I think we did a good job coming together, even down to finding some ways to express team unity as a group. We had six courts where everybody showed up to play hard today, so it was a complete effort, and a quality win."
NC State took the first two decisions of the morning to win the doubles point. Joelle Kissell and Ashley Miller wrapped first, sealing an 8-5 win in the third spot. Miller and Kissell improve their record to 8-3, good for the team-leading win percentage.
17th-ranked Sanaa Bhambri and Sandhya Nagaraj provided the clinching win against 33rd-ranked Kateryna Yergina and Alex Bara after a struggle. The Pack's top duo saw a 6-3 lead evaporate before regaining their composure and closing out VCU 8-6. Bhambri and Nagaraj extend their season-high doubles win streak to six-consecutive matches.
85th-ranked Nagaraj notched the first win of the singles portion, dispatching Alex Bara 6-0, 6-2 to pull the Wolfpack within two decisions of advancing. Nagaraj has not suffered a singles loss since April 3 at Miami.
Joelle Kissell represented the next point, claiming a 6-1, 6-3 decision over Daria Yakauleva at number four. Needing one last win to secure the victory and advance,
Tatiana Illova and Christy Sipes raced to capture the clinching point. Sipes's 6-4, 6-3 topping of Olga Terteac did the deed, while Illova's 7-6 (8-6), 4-1 lead over Josefin Hjertquist would go unfinished.
VCU and NC State met previously during the season, with the Pack scoring a 5-2 victory over the then 25th-ranked Rams.
The Pack will make its third trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. NC State advanced in 2006 and 2008, but a win on Sunday over the winner of the Virginia and Army will mark a first in school history.
"The best thing preparing us for tomorrow is our success today," said Olsen. "Gaining some confidence, and getting our competitive rhythms going got us a win today. Those are going to be the most important things to repeat tomorrow."
Rain forced the first round indoors on Saturday, but tournament officials hope to host the final outdoors on Sunday. Live stats for Sunday's match will be available on the women's tennis schedule page at GoPack.com.
RESULTS
#25 NC State 4, #37 VCU 0
Doubles
1. #17 Bhambri/Nagaraj def. #33 Yergina/Al. Bara 8-6
2. Hjertquist/An. Bara led Illova/Hojckova 5-4, abd.
3. Kissell/Miller def. Pietzuch/Yakauleva 8-5
Singles
1. Kateryna Yergina led #28 Sanaa Bhambri 6-3, 4-4, abd.
2. #85 Sandhya Nagaraj def. Al. Bara 6-0, 6-2
3. Tatiana Illova led Josefin Hjertquist 7-6 (8-6), 4-1, adb.
4. Joelle Kissell def. Daria Yakauleva 6-1, 6-3
5. Lenka Hojckova led Ana Bara 7-6 (7-5), 3-0, abd.
6. Christy Sipes def. Olga Terteac 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 2; 2, 4, 6
