Feb. 22, 2008

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CHAPEL HILL --- No. 12 Sanaz Marand scored her first career victory over a top-5 opponent, but No. 2 Northwestern was too much, as the Wildcats dealt No. 5 North Carolina a 5-2 loss Friday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Indoor Tennis Center. The loss to Northwestern was the third straight for the Tar Heels (6-4), who have played five top-10 opponents in a row, including the Wildcats twice in two weeks.

Playing with a shuffled lineup, UNC picked up the doubles point with wins by Marand and Katrina Tsang at No. 1 and Austin Smith and Sophie Grabiniski at No. 3. Marand and Tsang, playing together for the first time at Carolina, dominated No. 10 Lauren Liu and Samantha Murray, 8-1. After Northwestern grabbed its own 8-1 win at No. 2, it was left to the players at No. 3 to decide it. Smith and Grabinski broke Nazlie Ghazal and Maria Mosolova at 3-all and eventually held on for an 8-6 victory.

Northwestern was undeterred by the loss, however, as the Wildcats won the opening set in five of the six singles matches. No. 25 Murray quickly evened the score with a 6-0, 6-0 win over No. 76 Smith.

Marand briefly put Carolina back in front with a 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 3 Georgia Rose at No. 2. The victory, which improved Marand to a perfect 9-0 in dual matches, was the Katy, Texas, sophomore's first career win over a top-10 opponent and her 13th of the season against a ranked foe.

No. 42 Liu made it 2-2 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Laura Reichert at No. 4 before No. 5 Mosolova finished off No. 28 Tsang at No. 1 just moments later to put the Wildcats back in front.

Both remaining matches were closely contested, but Northwestern prevailed in each to close out the 5-2 win. Suzie Matzenauer topped Grabinski, 7-6 (5), 6-2, at No. 6 to clinch the match, and No. 69 Ghazal outlasted Fanjoy at No. 5, 6-3, 6-4.

Next up for UNC is a rematch of last year's NCAA Sweet Sixteen, as the Tar Heels host No. 15 Notre Dame Sunday at noon.

DOUBLES
1. Marand/Tsang (UNC) def. #10 Liu/Murray (NU), 8-1
2. Conill/Rose (NU) def. Fanjoy/Recihert (UNC), 8-1
3. Smith/Grabinski (UNC) def. Ghazal/Mosolova (NU), 8-6
Order of finish: 1,2,3

SINGLES
1. #5 Maria Mosolova (NU) def. #28 Katrina Tsang (UNC), 6-2, 6-1
2. #12 Sanaz Marand (UNC) def. #3 Georgia Rose (NU), 6-4, 6-1
3. #25 Samantha Murray (NU) def. #76 Austin Smith, 6-0, 6-0
4. #42 Lauren Liu (NU) def. Laura Reichert (UNC), 6-4, 6-2
5. #69 Nazlie Ghazal (NU) def. Meg Fanjoy, 6-3, 6-4
6. Suzie Matzenauer (NU) def. Sophie Grabinski (UNC), 7-6 (5), 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,4,1,6*,5