NC State Wolfpack

Oct. 28, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Freshman Rachael James-Baker picked up her third singles win in her last five matches, and the NC State women's tennis team concluded play at the Lady Vol Classic, Sunday afternoon.

The Pack opened the morning with a series of non-dual singles matches against Ohio State, as James-Baker battled her way to a tough, three-set victory over Gabby Steele. The Plantation, Fla., native dropped the first set, 6-0, to Steele, but battled back to escape with a 7-6 second-set advantage. James-Baker would prevail in the third set, 6-3, to close out the battle.

NC State would struggle in its remaining singles matches, however, as sophomore Nicole Martinez fell, 6-2, 7-5, to Nicole Flower, sophomore Sophie Nelson, 6-1, 6-2, to Kelsey Cecil, and sophomore Elisha Hande, 6-3, 6-3, to Fidan Manashirova.

Junior and 19th-ranked Joelle Kissell dropped a hard-fought contest with Kelsey Dieters, as both the first and second sets reached tie-breakers, but the Hostetter, Pa., native was outlasted, 7-6, 7-6. Senior Chloe Smith was unfortunate in a three-set match with Noelle Malley, falling 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

The Wolfpack followed up singles play with doubles matches against Kentucky, but was unable to grab a win on any of three courts. Hande and Martinez were bested, 8-4, by Nadia Ravita and Caitlin McGraw, while Kissell and junior Christy Sipes were defeated, 8-5, by Jessica Stiles and Khristina Blajkevitch. Smith and James-Baker were the last NC State duo to fall, as Stephanie Fox and Kirsten Lewis grabbed an 8-6 win.

The squad does not have another tournament scheduled for its fall slate, and will resume practice and conditioning, before opening the spring season at home, Jan. 31, against East Carolina at 4 p.m.

Lady Vol Classic
Day 3

Singles
NC State vs. Ohio State
1. Kelsey Dieters, OSU def. #19 Joelle Kissell, NC State, 7-6, 7-6 
2. Fidan Manashirova, OSU def. Elisha Hande, NC State, 6-3, 6-3
3. Kelsey Cecil, OSU def. Sophie Nelson, NC State, 6-1, 6-2
4. Rachael James-Baker, NC State def. Gabby Steele, OSU, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3 
5. Noelle Malley, OSU def. Chloe Smith, NC State, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
6. Nicole Flower, OSU def. Nicole Martinez, NC State, 6-2, 7-5

Doubles

Kentucky vs. NC State
1. Nadia Ravita/Caitlin McGraw, UK, def. Nicole Martinez/Elisha Hande, NC State, 8-4
2. Jessica Stiles/Khristina Blajkevitch, UK, def. Joelle Kissell/Christy Sipes, NC State, 8-5
3. Stephanie Fox/Kirsten Lewis, UK, def. Chloe Smith/Rachael James-Baker, NC State, 8-6