The No. 1 UNC women’s tennis team has accomplished quite a bit under head coach Brian Kalbas, but now the Tar Heels are one win away from adding one last feather into the program’s cap. Carolina soundly defeated No. 4 overall seed Georgia in the NCAA semifinals Friday in Orlando, and will compete for the team’s first-ever NCAA team title on Saturday.

Unlike in the previous two rounds, UNC made no mistakes in the doubles point. Wins by the team of Fiona Crawley and Abbey Forbes as well as Elizabeth Scotty and Carson Tanguilig gave Carolina a quick 1-0 advantage.

In singles, Crawley dominated her way to a 6-1, 6-2 win, doubling the UNC lead. Reese Brantmeier was right behind her, cruising to a 6-2, 6-4 win. And right behind her was Scotty, winning 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the match for the Tar Heels. Tanguilig was well on her way to a three-set victory when the match was stopped.

This is the third time UNC has beaten Georgia this season, with one of those wins coming in the ITA indoor national championship match.

Friday’s win means Carolina advances past the round which had tripped it up in the last three tournaments. Awaiting the Tar Heels in the championship round is familiar foe: No. 3 overall seed NC State. UNC and the Wolfpack have met twice already this season, with each side winning once. Carolina won in a sweep in the regular season, but NC State thrashed the Tar Heels in the ACC championship match in April. Saturday’s match is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Tennis on Twitter


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