#34 W. Tennis Falls to #24 William & Mary in NCAAs
Courtesy: NC State
Release: 05/09/2008
The NC State women's tennis team, ranked No. 33 nationally, fell to #24 William & Mary in a close contest in Durham, N.C. in the first round of the NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack (13-11) had match points in doubles but couldn't close the door, and the Tribe (17-8) won at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 singles to advance.
NC State was participating in its third straight NCAA Championships after making the field only once previously in school history.
"I thought we did alot of the things that we set out to accomplish today," head coach Hans Olsen said of his team's play and preparation. "It was a really good college match, with the doubles point coming down to last the last match. Our girls showed lots of fight, and I thought that the things we had control over today, like our heart and intensity, that we did a great job."
The Tribe and Wolfpack battled to a close finish during doubles play, with the Pack dropping a heartbreaker at No. 2 to clinch the point.
Catherine Grotz and Lenka Hojckova lost at No. 1 doubles, 8-6, as William & Mary's No. 10 ranked duo of Moulton-Levy and Zoricic held off the Pack duo.
Julia Roach and Neils Barringer won three of the last four games to win its contest and level the doubles point at No. 3.
Berkeley Brock and Daria Petrovic were locked in a battle at No. 2 doubles after trailing. 2-5, early. The duo rallied for a 5-5 tie, then Petrovic was serving at 7-7, but was soon broken by Acharya/Kastelaniec as the Wolfpack lost the match and the doubles point, 9-7.
In singles, Petrovic couldn't hold off the talented Megan Moulton-Levy at No. 1, as the nation's No. 12 ranked player took down Petrovic, 6-1, 6-1, for a 2-0 Tribe lead.
Cat Grotz fell a few minutes later at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-1, to give William & Mary a 3-0 advantage in the match.
The Tribe would clinch the match after a hard fought battle between the Wolfpack's Lenka Hojckova and No. 119 Ragini Acharya. Acharya would clinch it with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph, but Hojckova kept it close throughout.
