N.C. State completed its second consecutive sweep with a 7-0 home victory over Gardner-Webb at J.W Isenhour Tennis Complex Sunday afternoon.
The Wolfpack (2-0) took all three doubles matches early to earn a 1-0 match lead. The doubles team of senior Nandita Chandrasekar and sophomore Elin Stahl Johansson defeated the Bulldogs’ Jenny Gomez and Monica Walser, 8-2, while Pack junior Agustina Arechavaleta and freshman Neils Barringer shut out Amy Beavers and Tracy Tonsor, 8-0. Juniors Allison Barry and Lauren Barry won their doubles match by default.
Coach Hans Olsen said practicing on the attacking patterns made the team more successful during the doubles matches.
“I thought that we’re much more putting their opponents on the defense,” Olsen said. “The attacking patterns that we worked on this week in practice, we saw in this match and we definitely want more of it. It was a good step from the first match to the second.”
The Pack continued the strong play in their singles matches. Allison Barry took immediate control of her match cruising to a rare 6-0, 6-0 win at the No. 5 seed. The trend continued as Lauren Barry won by default at the No. 6 seed while No. 4 seed Arechavaleta defeated Krystina Sigmon, 6-1, 6-0 to seal the overall win for the Pack.
Barry said being focused on playing her style of match was important in winning the match.
“I really went into the match trying to play my game,” Barry said. “I try to be steady in the first couple to make sure I [have] my stroke going.”
“Afterwhile, I felt a little more comfortable, a little more aggressive, and I tried to stay focused on my strategy,” she continued.
At No. 3, Barringer defeated Beavers 6-2, 6-1 while Johannson at No. 1 won her match 6-2, 6-2. Freshman Arielle Von Strolley won her first collegiate match and finished the sweep with a score of 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2.
Von Strolley admits she had first match jitters, but feels the support of the team helped her in her match.
“I was nervous since it was my first college match,” Von Strolley said. “In my first match, I was nervous so I was missing a lot. I really think that since my match was last and everyone was pretty much finished when I started, I really think that the team really helped me and supported me.”
Barringer said she changed her game plan from last week to adapt to her opponent’s style of play.
“This week I played a different style of player,” Barringer said. “Last week I played a girl that hit really hard, maybe made a few more errors. This girl was more consistent and didn’t hit the ball as hard so I had to back off my game a little bit and be a little bit more patient.”
“At the end of the match, I started to feel more comfortable. I felt that if I came to the net, I could put points up a little bit quicker and play more my style of game,” she said.
Olsen said he liked the way Barringer and Von Strolley battled in their matches.
“They were out there fighting, and I think that it was good for the freshmen,” Olsen said. “Both started slow in the first couple games, and once they got their bearings, they got control of the match. I thought they closed the door really well.”
Olsen added the team was really balanced and was the reason why it could rest its experienced players.
“Our team is very balanced, and we have a lot of people [who] can get it done. Hopefully this will keep the intensity going.”
State’s next match is at home against Western Carolina at 9 a.m before playing UNC-Wilmington on Sunday at 5 p.m.
