A thrilling three-set victory by Alexa Graham helped the top-ranked UNC women’s tennis team narrowly avoid an upset Sunday afternoon on the road at No. 22 Florida State.

Graham’s victory, however, gave the Tar Heels a 4-3 victory over the Seminoles and improved their record to 16-1 this season (5-0 ACC).

It was also the program’s 23rd straight road win against ACC competition, a streak that dates back to April 19, 2014.

The Tar Heels claimed the doubles point early on in the match, before Florida State rallied back with an impressive showing in singles.

Carla Touly and Petra Hule each scored major upsets for Florida State by knocking off Alle Sanford and Sara Daavettila, respectively, UNC’s two top-ranked players.

Wins from Jessie Aney and Makenna Jones had put the Tar Heels ahead 3-2 on the scoreboard before Touly’s upset over Sanford put all the pressure on Graham to seal the deal.

After dropping her second set against Gabriella Castaneda, 6-2, Graham responded beautifully with a 6-4 victory in the third, and final, set–clinching the victory for the Tar Heels.

Up Next:

UNC returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Georgia Tech at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill. That match is set to begin at 11 a.m.

 

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

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