University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
North Carolina
Tennis Falls To #4 UNC, 5-2
January 22, 2012 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 22, 2012
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Tennessee dominated its way to the doubles point, but it wasn't enough to overcome a shorthanded singles lineup for the second straight match as the Lady Vols (0-2) fell, 5-2, to fourth-ranked North Carolina on Sunday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Senior Natalie Pluskota was limited to doubles action for the second time this weekend, spotting the Tar Heels (3-1) a point before the match began.
That didn't stop Pluskota and the rest of her teammates from an impressive showing in doubles, as the Lady Vols took all three matches to clinch the point.
"We did an outstanding job in doubles just like we did Saturday," co-head coach Mike Patrick said. "We were playing a man down, which isn't easy in singles. We have to learn how to compete and get better in singles. Kata (Szekely) had an outstanding weekend, beating two highly-ranked players. She's just becoming a real force there. We have to mature and get better. We have talent. We just have to get tougher. The team we played today showed its experience and they took it to us. Hopefully, we can get Natalie back and that will help quite a bit."
The combinations of Brynn Boren and Sarah Toti and Joanna Henderson and Kata Szekely each improved to 2-0 in dual-match play. Boren and Toti, ranked 18th together, matched their longest winning streak together with their fifth consecutive victory, dating back to the fall. More impressively, Boren and Toti improved to 5-1 against ranked opponents with the 8-5 win over the 43rd-rated duo of Zoe De Bruycker and Laura Slater.
With the doubles point in hand, Pluskota and Caitlyn Williams won their first match together, 8-4, over Shinann Featherston and Lauren McHale. Now with 89 career doubles wins, Pluskota is in sole possession of the 11th-most in Tennessee history and is one victory away from moving into the top 10.
A day after picking up the highest-ranked win of her career, Szekely bested her own performance, defeating No. 16 Lauren McHale, 6-3, 6-2. With nine overall singles wins, Szekely leads UT and was the only Lady Vol to escape the weekend with an unblemished record.
Szekely's feat evened the score at two after Boren lost, 6-3, 6-1, to No. 44 Zoe De Bruycker.
In a battle of freshman standouts, the Tar Heels broke the tie courtesy of 55th-ranked Caroline Price, who picked up the win over Toti, 6-2, 7-6 (2). UNC took advantage of its experience, securing the win as senior Shinann Featherston defeated Henderson in straight sets.
After UNC's victory was in hand, Williams' match was retired.
Tennessee returns home and will be in action Friday at the Goodfriend Tennis Center against UC Davis at 2 p.m. for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Based on Friday's results, the Lady Vols will take on Tulsa or North Carolina State on Saturday at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m.
#4 North Carolina 5, #18 Tennessee 2
Singles
1. #44 Zoe De Bruycker (UNC) def. #27 Brynn Boren (UT) 6-3, 6-1
2. #59 Kata Szekely (UT) def. #16 Lauren McHale (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
3. #55 Caroline Price (UNC) def. Sarah Toti (UT) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
4. Shinann Featherston (UNC) def. Joanna Henderson (UT) 6-3, 6-1
5. Gina Suarez-Malaguti (UNC) def. Caitlyn Williams (UT) 6-4, 1-3, ret.
6. Tessa Lyons (UNC) by forfeit
Doubles
1. Natalie Pluskota/Caitlyn Williams (UT) def. Shinann Featherston/Lauren McHale (UNC) 8-4
2. #18 Brynn Boren/Sarah Toti (UT) def. #43 Zoe De Bruycker/Laura Slater (UNC) 8-5
3. Joanna Henderson/Kata Szekely (UT) def. Tessa Lyons/Caroline Price (UNC) 8-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (1, 2, 4, 3, 5)
Players Mentioned
