It appears the UNC women’s tennis team has a new star on its hands.

Tar Heel freshman Alle Sanford took home the Oracle ITA Masters Championship on Sunday in Malibu, with a stunning upset of the nation’s top-ranked player–UCLA’s Ena Shibahara.

Sanford–who arrived in Chapel Hill with expectations high enough to warrant the No. 6 seed entering this event–fought off five match points against Shibahara on the way to a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 victory.

It was a coming out party of sorts for the Westerville, Ohio native, who clearly lived up to the hype and then some.

Earlier in the tournament, Shibara eliminated UNC’s other top player–sophomore Sara Daavettila, the No. 8 seed–in the quarterfinals.

The impressive performances from both Sanford and Daavettila shows head coach Brian Kalbas and company should be just fine this season, despite losing the program’s all-time wins leader in Hayley Carter.

Up Next:

Sanford and the rest of the Tar Heels will head to Greenville, South Carolina this weekend to take part in the Furman Invitational.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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