April 7, 2001

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Thirteenth-ranked North Carolina defeated Virginia 6-1 Saturday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The Tar Heels halted a two match losing streak (both to top 20 teams) and improved their record to 11-5 overall and 2-2 in the ACC.

Carolina dominated the doubles action, winning on all three courts to take a 1-0 lead. In singles, UNC won four matches in straight sets. Freshman Lee Bairos put the Tar Heels up 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over UVA's Kelly Weaver at number six singles. Then, sophomore Marlene Mejia won her 27th singles match of the season 7-5, 6-2 over Raleigh native and Broughton High graduate, Henriette Williams.

Shelby, N.C. native, Kristin Koenig defeated Jennifer Turchband 6-3, 6-3 to clinch the match. Koenig improved to 21-9 in singles this season. Sophomore Kate Pinchbeck tallied the Tar Heels' final point with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory at number two singles. Kendrick Bunn and Laura James halted their match in the second set after UNC's victory was clinched because of Bunn's battle with a series of nagging injuries.

"I was very pleased with our effort today," Carolina coach Roland Thornqvist remarked. "We beat a talented and scrappy Virginia team. I'm particularly pleased with our doubles play."

Carolina returns to action tomorrow hosting Maryland at 1 p.m. The Maryland match will be the final home contest for seniors Courtney Zalinski and Erin Neibling at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

#13 North Carolina 6
#73 Virginia 1

Doubles

#1 Bunn/Pinchbeck [#50](UNC) d. Schweer/Williams (UVA) 8-4

#2 Mejia/Rotondi [#35] (UNC) d. O'Donnell/Christine Kim (UVA) 8-4

#3 Erin Neibling/Courtney Zalinski (UNC) d. Turchband/Weaver (UVA) 9-7

Singles

#1 Marlene Mejia [#14] (UNC) d. Henriette Williams (UVA) 7-5, 6-2

#2 Julie Rotondi [#51] (UNC) d. Amy O'Donnell (UVA) 6-2, 6-0

#3 Kate Pinchbeck [#75] (UNC) d. Christie Schweer (UVA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3

#4 Kristin Koenig (UNC) d. Jennifer Turchband (UVA) 6-3, 6-3

#5 Laura James (UVA) d. Kendrick Bunn (UNC) 7-6, 2-1, Ret.

#6 Lee Bairos (UNC) d. Kelly Weaver (UVA) 6-3, 6-3