Carolina reaches ITA National Team Indoor Championship finals after sweep of Duke

The North Carolina women’s tennis team posted a 4-0 shutout of Duke on Sunday to reach the finals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship for the sixth consecutive season. The second-seeded Tar Heels knocked off the fifth-seeded Blue Devils in the semifinals for the third year in a row and the fifth occurrence in the last 10.

The title match from XS Tennis Village takes place on Monday at noon against fourth seed UCLA. The Tar Heels have won the indoor national championship three times in 2013, 2015 and 2018.

Carolina set the tone early once again with its doubles teams. No. 6 Alexa Graham and Sara Daavettila won the final three points of their match on court one to claim a 6-4 comeback victory over Kelly Chen and Chloe Beck. Over on court three, sophomore Cameron Morra and freshman Elizabeth Scotty closed out Summer Dvorak and Yasmine Mansouri by an identical 6-4 score to secure the opening point of the match.

Carolina’s doubles teams have not lost a set in its nine dual matches thus far in 2020, boasting a perfect 18-0 mark.

No. 4 Daavettila improved to 3-0 on court two this week with an impressive 6-1, 6-1, victory over the freshman Mansouri.

No. 36 Alle Sanford posted her first singles win of the tournament to stake the Heels to a 3-0 lead. Her 6-3, 6-1, win over Vanderbilt transfer Summer Dvorak left Carolina just a single point away from clinching its place in Monday’s finale.

The only question was who would secure the clinching point?

Scotty, the rookie from Annapolis, Maryland, had Blue Devil senior and No. 89 Meible Chi on the ropes – up a set and one point away from a win – but it turned out to be UNC senior and No. 101 Makenna Jones that defeated No. 17 Chloe Beck on court five, 6-4, 6-3.

The Tar Heels improved to 9-0 on the season, while No. 5 Duke falls to 7-2. Carolina and Duke are scheduled to play in Durham on March 25 at 3 p.m.