In a match between two national powerhouses that lasted nearly five hours long on Saturday, the top-ranked UNC women’s tennis team eked out a 4-3 win on the road against the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs.

The win was the 22nd in a row for the Tar Heels (4-0) in a streak that dates back to the time the 2020 season was canceled, while the loss was the first for Georgia (1-1) to a non-conference opponent at home since 2017.

Georgia took the doubles point to begin the match, earning an advantage heading into singles play.

Back-to-back wins from Sara Daavettila (6-3, 6-0) and Fiona Crawley (6-1, 7-5) put UNC ahead 2-1, before the Bulldogs came roaring back with two straight wins to wrestle the lead back.

Needing to win both of the final two singles matches, the Tar Heels did just that to escape with the victory–as Reilly Tran (6-4, 6-2) and Anika Yarlagaada (5-7, 6-2, 7-5) each came up big in crunch time.

It was the first meeting between the two programs since Georgia defeated UNC in the finals of the 2019 ITA National Indoor Tournament.

Up Next:

The Tar Heels will now move forward to the 2021 ITA National Indoor Tournament in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which will feature eight teams competing from Feb. 5-7. UNC and Georgia are the last two champions of the event.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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