The No. 2 UNC women’s tennis team began another highly-anticipated season with four dominant wins, topping Elon, Appalachian State, East Carolina and Campbell over the holiday weekend in Chapel Hill.

Top-ranked Fiona Crawley, who finished the fall season undefeated in singles, took wins in three of Carolina’s four victories (she didn’t play against Appalachian State). Her season did begin on a surprising note, however, as Crawley dropped her opening set in her singles match against Elon’s Sibel Tanik, 5-7. Crawley rallied to win the second set 6-3, then won a third set tiebreaker 10-5. She won in straight sets against East Carolina and Campbell.

Crawley and doubles partner Carson Tanguilig, a pair also ranked No. 1, took a 6-3 victory to help UNC claim the doubles point against Elon and were well on their way to another against Campbell before the match was stopped. Former NCAA champion Elizabeth Scotty also won each of her doubles matches with partners Abbey Forbes and Reilly Tran.

The dual matches saw the UNC debuts of freshman Reese Brantmeier and Forbes, a transfer from UCLA. Forbes put together a decorated career with the Bruins, being named the Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year in 2021 and part of the Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year in that same season. Forbes is currently ranked No. 5 in singles.

The win against East Carolina also marked the 500th in the Carolina career of head coach Brian Kalbas and his 714th overall. Kalbas has been coaching the Tar Heels for 20 seasons.

The women’s tennis team will be back in action on Wednesday against NC Central at 5 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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