NC State
Virginia
Pack Picks Up Emotional Win Over Wahoos, 4-3
4/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 13, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. - First year NC State head coach Hans Olsen led his women's tennis team to their first league win of the season with a close and emotional win over No. 70 Virginia. The victory gives the Wolfpack double-digits in the win column for the first time since 1999, bringing them to 10-11. Virginia falls to 2-4 in conference play and 11-8 on the year. The Pack took the lead early with the doubles point, and then rallied from a 3-2 deficit to clinch the win in singles competition with late victories by Myrna Bawono and Loni Worsley.
NC State again found the doubles point to be a deciding factor in its second straight win over an ITA ranked opponent. The senior tandem of Katrina Gildemeister and Kristen Nicholls led the way early for the Pack, winning the No. 1 doubles match in a tiebreaker over Virginia's Henriette Williams and Jennifer Tuchband. The No. 2 match was close as well. Unfortunately for the Pack, Jennifer Jassawalla and Bawono were downed in the tiebreaker by Dora and Marta Bechliwanis, 9-8(3). In the No. 3 match, the Worsley and Freshman Danielle Staddelmann were able to clinch the point for the Wolfpack, defeating Christine Kim and Amy O'Donnell, 8-6.
The Lady Cavaliers mounted an early comeback in the singles competition. Henriette Williams, a native of Raleigh and graduate of Broughton High School, took down Katrina Gildemeister in straight sets to pick up the win in the No. 1 match. On the next court, Kristen Nicholls went down to Virginia's O'Donnel, 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 3 match.
Also finishing early was NC State's Jennifer Jassawalla. Jassawalla had no problem in the No. 4 match versus Virginia's Dora Bechliwanis. Jassawalla has now won five of her last six matches and has 12 wins on the season.
After nearly four hours of play, the remaining three singles matches were in a heated dual on the courts. Action continued in the No. 2, 5 and 6 matches. On court six, Danielle Staddelmann fought back in the second set after falling by a close margin of 7-5 in the first. Staddelmann kept Christine Kim on the court as long as she could, but was retired by Kim, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0. NC State's Myrna Bawono found herself down to Lady Cav Jennifer Tuchband heading into the second set as well. Bawono fought back in the second to send the match to a tiebreaker. Bawono was up 5-2 and had the advantage when Tuchband needed a break in the action. While action paused on court two, all eyes were on Loni Worsley and Marta Bechliwannis in the No. 5 singles match. In the first set, Worsley led 5-1 before allowing Bechliwannis six straight points. Worsley was able to regain her composure going into the second set and tied the match at one game a piece. In the third set, Worsley again led most of the way, but Bechliwannis kept things close towards the end and sent the third set into a tiebreaker. A very determined Worsley came out on top with a line of 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(3) to bring the Wolfpack up to a 3-3 tie overall.
Moments after Worsley's emotional victory, action resumed on court two. The winner of the No. 2 match would not only win the point, but would also break the tie and win the dual match for their respected team. The home team prevailed as Bawono was able to outlast Tuchband and sealed the win for the Wolfpack. The final line for Bawono was 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
An emotional win versus Virginia sets the stage for an emotional Senior Day on Sunday. A win would move the Wolfpack out of Thursday's potential match-up with the top-seeded team in the ACC Tournament. The regular season champion will be decided Sunday as well with a battle of the ACC unbeatens, Duke and North Carolina.
Entering Sunday's NC State and Maryland match-up, the Terrapins are 9-10 on the season and 1-6 in ACC play. The Terps are riding a six match loosing streak into the Wolfpack Tennis Complex, yet are ranked No. 52 by in the latest ITA poll.
Play is set to begin at noon Sunday. A cookout will be hosted by the athletic department to honor the seniors and the fans. Spectators are encouraged to come out and support Seniors Katrina Gildemeister and Kristen Nicholls in their last home match of the season.
No. 70 Virginia 3, NC State 4
Singles
1 - Henriette Williams (UVa) def. Katrina Gildemeister (NCSU), 6-0, 6-1
2 - Myrna Bawono (NCSU) def. Jennifer Tuchband (UVa), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
3 - Amy O'Donnell (UVa) def. Kristen Nicholls (NCSU), 6-0, 6-3
4 - Jennifer Jassawalla (NCSU) def. Dora Bechliwanis (UVa), 6-2, 6-3
5 - Loni Worsley (NCSU) def. Marta Bechliwanis (UVa), 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
6 - Christine Kim (UVa) def. Danielle Staddelmann (NCSU), 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
Doubles
1 - Gildemeister/Nicholls (NCSU) def. Williams/Tuchband (UVa), 9-8 (6)
2 - Jassawalla/Bawono (NCSU) def. D. & M. Bechliwanis (UVa), 9-8 (3)
3 - O'Donnell/Kim (UVa) def. Worsley/Staddelmann (NCSU), 8-6
