Feb. 3, 2008

CHAPEL HILL --- No. 17 North Carolina won its fourth consecutive home match in convincing fashion Sunday, defeating Michigan State, 6-1, at the Cone Kenfield Indoor Tennis Center. The Tar Heels (4-1) won all three doubles matches, dropping just one match in singles play.

After falling in an early 2-1 hole at No. 1 doubles, eighth-ranked Sophie Grabinski and Sanaz Marand ran off seven straight games for an 8-2 win. Sophomore Katrina Tsang and junior Laura Reichert clinched the doubles point just moments later, finishing off an 8-3 victory at the No. 2 position. Juniors Meg Fanjoy and Austin Smith completed the sweep when they rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win 8-5 at No. 3.

Marand, the No. 14 singles player in the nation, opened singles play with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Manon Noé at No. 2. The Tar Heels would then clinch the victory with two quick wins at Nos. 4 and 5. Reichert took care of Ana Milosavljevic, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 just seconds before freshman Jelena Durisic defeated Lindsey Lonergan at No. 4, 6-2, 6-2.

The remaining three matches were more tightly contested, with the Tar Heels prevailing in two of three. Grabinski held off Michelle Murphy, 6-1, 7-5 at No. 5, with Tsang finishing her 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Christine Bader less than a minute later. No. 72 Smith was last off, falling to Stephanie Kebler, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3.

Next up for UNC is the ITA National Indoor tournament in Madison, Wis. The draw for that event will be posted Monday at TarHeelBlue.com

DOUBLES
1. #8 Marand/Grabinski def. Bader/Kebler, 8-2
2. Tsang/Reichert def. Noé/Wilson, 8-3
3. Fanjoy/Smith def. Lonergan/Milosavljevic, 8-5
Order of finish: 1,2,3

SINGLES
1. Katrina Tsang def. Christine Bader, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
2. #14 Sanaz Marand def. Manon Noé, 6-3, 6-0
3. Stephanie Kelber def. #72 Austin Smith, 6-3, 6-4
4. Jelena Durisic def. Lindsey Lonergan, 6-2, 6-2
5. Laura Reichert def. Ana Milosavljevic, 6-2, 6-1
6. Sophie Grabinski def. Michelle Murphy, 6-1, 7-5
Order of finish: 2,5,4,6,1,3