NC State
East Carolina
Wolfpack Sweeps In-State Competition In Opening Matches
1/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Wolfpack women's tennis team opened its spring season with wins over Western Carolina and East Carolina. Experience fueled the team's success as senior Elisha Hande provided the clinching point for both matches. Junior Joanna Nalborska also provided two important wins at the No. 1 spot in singles.
Western Carolina 7-0
In the sweep of the Catamounts, freshman Tayla Stenta and Nalborska picked up their first dual wins for NC State.
In doubles, head coach Simon Earnshaw opted for a fresh line up. Between all three teams, only Hande and Nalborska had previous game experience as a team. The choice worked for the Pack as they dominated and won all three double matches.
In singles play, the upperclassmen defeated their opponents in straight sets to clinch the win for the Pack. Senior Sophie Nelson won the first singles match 6-0, 6-2 to give State a commanding 2-0 lead. Nalborska won at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-4, and Hande provided the clinching point for the Pack moments later wining 7-5, 6-3.
Liza Fieldsend, Natalia Janowicz and Stenta would all pick up their first victories on the season as well. After dropping the second set, Fieldsend rallied late, while Stenta came back from a four point deficit in the second set to win the match 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
East Carolina 4-3
Once again, senior leadership played a large part in the victory as the Pack won 4-3 against a strong East Carolina team. Nicole Martinez returned from injury to make her season debut while Hande clinched her second match of the day.
East Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point. State responded with four straight victories to win the match. After going to three sets earlier in the day, Fieldsend dominated her second match and defeated the Pirates' Maria Gomez 6-0, 6-1.
With the match at tied at one, the upperclassmen stepped up again. Nalborska finished off her opponent 6-2, 6-2 for her second victory of the day, while Martinez earned her first win of the season by defeating ECU's Sara Sarjoo 6-3, 6-3.
In No. 3 singles, Hande won a difficult first set with a tie breaker and traded points early in the second set. A strong push late in the second set provided the clincher for the second time in as many matches.
Janowicz and Nelson faced tough tests from the bottom of ECU's lineups and dropped their matches, but the early wins at the top of the line up were enough as the Pack improved to 2-0 on the season.
Simon Says:
"We've had a long preseason and it has been a long time since we've played a competitive match. With it being the first match, it is difficult to know what will happen. On the whole, we did well. It's positive that we got the wins. Moving forward I know that we can and probably expect to do better."
Up Next:
NC State continues its seven-match home stand on Friday, Jan. 6 versus Winthrop at 2 p.m. The Wolfpack will also play Sunday against Georgia State at 10 a.m.
Tennis Match Results
Western Carolina University vs NC State
Jan 31, 2015 at Raleigh, N.C.
(J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
NC State 7, Western Carolina University 0
Singles competition
1. #66 Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. Megan McLinden (WCU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Liza Fieldsend (ST) def. Shannon Bettoil (WCU) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
3. Elisha Hande (ST) def. Nicole Nielly (WCU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Sophie Nelson (ST) def. Elizabeth Ansari (WCU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Tayla Stenta (ST) def. Erin Maguire (WCU) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Natalia Janowicz (ST) def. Montse Mesalles (WCU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Joanna Nalborska/Elisha Hande (ST) def. Megan McLinden/Shannon Bettoil (WCU) 6-0
2. Liza Fieldsend/Natalia Janowicz (ST) def. Nicole Nielly/Elizabeth Ansari (WCU) 6-1
3. Tayla Stenta/Sophie Nelson (ST) def. Erin Maguire/Montse Mesalles (WCU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Western Carolina University 1-1
NC State 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,1,3,2,6,5)
T-3:27 A-96
Tennis Match Results
East Carolina University vs NC State
Jan 31, 2015 at Raleigh, N.C.
(J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
NC State 4, East Carolina University 3
Singles competition
1. #66 Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. Nicole LaDuca (ECU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Liza Fieldsend (ST) def. Maria Gomez (ECU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Elisha Hande (ST) def. Michelle Castro (ECU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
4. Nicole Martinez (ST) def. Sara Sarjoo (ECU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Katie Hoch (ECU) def. Sophie Nelson (ST) 6-2, 6-3
6. Betsy Zurawel (ECU) def. Natalia Janowicz (ST) 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 (10-0)
Doubles competition
1. Michelle Castro/Nicole LaDuca (ECU) def. Nicole Martinez/Sophie Nelson (ST) 6-2
2. Maria Gomez/Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Liza Fieldsend/Natalia Janowicz (ST) 6-4
3. Elisha Hande/Joanna Nalborska (ST) vs. Dana Gray/Katie Hoch (ECU) 6-4
Match Notes:
East Carolina University 0-1
NC State 2-0
Order of finish:
Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,1,4,3,5)
T-3:27 A-100
Players Mentioned
