Gina Guareno
No. 40 N.C. State suffered its first loss of the season with a 6-1 defeat at the hands of No. 10 North Carolina at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center Thursday afternoon.
The Wolfpack (8-1, 0-1) lost all three doubles matches early to fall to a 1-0 match deficit. The doubles team of senior Barbara Orlay and freshman Alejandra Guerra lost their match to the Tar Heels’ Sara Anundsen and Jenna Long, 8-2, while Pack senior Nandita Chandrasekar and sophomore Elin Stahl Johansson lost their match, 8-3. Sophomore Julia Roach and freshman Shona Lee played hard in defeat, 8-7.
Assistant coach Mait DuBois said the team played well, but seemed to be a little off guard from the Tar Heels’ aggressive style of play.
“There [were] a lot of things that we did well today, but there were a lot of things that we haven’t seen this year,” DuBois said. “That’s the most aggressive team that we have played this season, and it caught us off guard a little bit.
“Overall, the areas we’ve been stressing are still making a difference, and we’re still getting better. I think this was a good challenge, and this was a good match to get us ready for some matches that we [have] coming up.”
The Pack’s misfortunes continued in the singles matches, but there was one bright spot. At No. 5, Roach battled back after losing the first set to win in a tiebreaker to capture the lone State win, 1-6, 6-1, 1-0 (5). Chandrasekar was ousted in straight sets at the No. 3 seed, 6-1, 6-2, while Guerra was also defeated, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4. At No. 1, Orlay was defeated by Long, ranked No. 21 nationally in singles, 6-0, 6-2.
Roach said she really had to grind it out in order to win her match.
“I started out slow on the first set, and was going for a little too much,” Roach said. “The second set I calmed down and grinded it out with her.”
At No. 6, freshman Neils Barringer suffered a loss to Laura Reichert, 6-1, 6-4, and Lee pushed Caitlin Collins, ranked No. 56 in singles, to the limit before falling in a tiebreaker 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (7).
Despite the failed attempt to knock off the Pack’s second consecutive ranked opponent, Barringer feels the road trip was a learning experience.
“We need to come out and play our game, and not play our opponent’s game,” Barringer said.
State’s next match is at home against No. 64 Marshall on Sunday at noon.