The UNC women’s tennis team held its place atop the college tennis world Monday afternoon, defeating No. 8 Oklahoma to win the program’s third consecutive ITA Indoor national title, and sixth in program history.
THREE. PEAT.
Carolina joins Stanford as the only programs to ever win three straight #ITAIndoors titles.#GoHeels 🐏🎾 pic.twitter.com/IVgSLgEG2I
— Carolina Women's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@UNC_wtennis) February 14, 2022
After a marathon battle with No. 6 NC State in the semifinals on Sunday, Carolina dropped the doubles point against the Sooners to open the match. The top-ranked team of Elizabeth Scotty and Fiona Crawley fell 6-3, while Cameron Morra and Carson Tanguilig dropped their match, 6-2. It was a dominant opening salvo from the Sooners, who were well on their way to winning the third doubles match before it was stopped.
Scotty quickly found her form again in singles, dispatching Oklahoma’s Carmen Corley 6-2, 6-1. Corley was part of the team which had defeated Scotty and Crawley in doubles. Crawley would then finish off her opponent 6-4, 6-4, giving Carolina a 2-1 lead in the dual.
Elsewhere, though, Oklahoma appeared to have firm control, winning the first set in all four other singles matches. Though Reilly Tran fought back to win the second set in her match, the Sooners’ Ivana Corley would win the third to level the championship at 2-2.
But the Tar Heels would fight back and turn the tide of the afternoon. Carson Tanguilig rebounded from a 3-6 opening set loss to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-1. She won the second set with a clutch break of serve before riding that momentum into a third set rout.
Her victory put Carolina one point away from a three-peat. Cameron Morra and Anika Yarlagadda both also forced third sets in their matches after dropping the opener. Yarlagadda dominated the second and third sets against Oklahoma’s Emma Staker, taking the first five games of both. She would hold serve up 5-3 in the third to clinch UNC’s championship win. It was the fourth win in four days for Carolina, who defeated No. 11 Ohio State, No. 7 Virginia and No. 6 NC State on its way to the final.
Now in his 19th season as head coach in Chapel Hill, Brian Kalbas has captured six ITA indoor titles, all in the past decade. He is the winningest coach in ACC history and has been named National Coach of the Year twice, once with Carolina and once with William & Mary. The women’s tennis program has also won three individual NCAA championships during his tenure: Jamie Loeb in singles in 2015 and two doubles teams, most recently Scotty and Makenna Jones in 2021.
The women’s tennis team is now 11-0 in 2022, and rides its ITA momentum into ACC play. The Tar Heels won’t be in action again until February 25, when they visit Notre Dame. Their next home match is on March 5 against Virginia Tech.
Featured image via Intercollegiate Tennis Association
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