North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Wake Forest
Women's Tennis Advances to Second Round of #ACCWTEN Championship
4/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
CARY, N.C.- Coming down to the third set on courts three and four to determine the winner, the NC State women's tennis team pulled out a 4-2 win over Wake Forest to advance to the second round of the ACC Women's Tennis Championship Wednesday afternoon. 
This marks the 11th win for NC State, and its second win over a conference opponent this season.
"It means a lot to us to get the win today over Wake Forest," senior Elisha Hande said. "We weren't quite ready for the season to be over, and all came out today and put everything on the line. We have another opportunity to continue in the tournament tomorrow and are excited for it."
Match Highlights
NC State took an early 1-0 lead after clinching the doubles point from courts two and three.
The duo of Elisha Hande and Nicole Martinez easily handled Wake's Andrea Retolaza Andrade and Samantha Asch, 8-2, on court two to turn in the Pack's first doubles win. 
The tandem of Liza Fieldsend and Sophie Nelson won the other doubles match for the Wolfpack from the third court, as the two defeated Luisa Fernandez and Courtney Meredith, 8-4.
With court one finishing simultaneously alongside court No. 3, Joanna Nalborska and Natalia Janowicz dropped an 8-5 match to Kimmy Gurerin and Kasey Gardiner. 
After Nalborska fell to No. 120 Guerin on court one and Nelson dropped her match to Gardiner on court five, Fieldsend grabbed the first singles point for the Pack as she defeated Xue Zhang, 6-2, 7-5, from the second court to tie the match to 2-2. 
Tayla Stenta grabbed the second point in singles play for the Pack, as she defeated Courtney Meredith, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, on court six to give NC State a 3-2 lead over Wake. 
The winner of the round one match came down to courts three and four, as both matches were forced into third sets. After winning her first but dropping her second set, Hande managed to win her third set, 6-4, over Fernandez to seal the match win for the Pack. 
Martinez dropped her first set, 6-4, to Asch on court three. She rallied back to win her second set, 6-4, and was on her way to rallying back in her third set before play was abandoned. Asch led 5-4 in set three. 
Up Next
The 14th-seeded Wolfpack will face Georgia Tech, the No. 6 seed, Thursday at Cary Tennis Park. Competition is slated for a 3 p.m. start. 
The Yellow Jackets will enter the matchup with a 13-8 (9-5 ACC) record on the season and the 27th spot in the ITA national team rankings.
Ga. Tech has two listed in the ITA singles rankings with Paige Hourigan at No. 53 and Johnnise Renaud at No. 102, while Hourigan and teammate Kendall Woodard hold the 16th spot in the doubles rankings. 
The last time the two met was inside J.W. Isenhour Center on March 1, as the Yellow Jackets defeated the Pack, 4-1. 
Tennis Match Results
NC State v Wake Forest (First Round ACC Championship)
Apr 22, 2015 a Cary, N.C.
(Cary Tennis Park)
NC State 4, Wake Forest 2
Singles Competition
1. #120 Kimmy Guerin (WF) def. Joanna Nalborska (ST), 6-1, 6-0
2. Liza Fieldsend (ST) def. Xue Zhang (ST), 6-2, 7-5
3. Smantha Asch (WF) vs. Nicole Martinez (ST), 6-4, 4-6, 5-4, unfinished 
4. Elisha Hande (ST) def. Luisa Fernandez, 6-3, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4
5. Casey Gardiner (WF) def. Sophie Nelson (ST), 6-1, 6-4
6. Tayla Stenta (ST) def Courtney Meredith (WF), 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Kimmy Guerin/Kasey Gardiner (WF) def. Joanna Nalborska/Natalia Janowicz (ST), 8-5
2. Elisha Hande/Nicole Martinez (ST) def. Andrea Retolaza/Samantha Asch (WF), 8-2
3. Liza Fieldsend/Sophie Nelson (ST) def. Luisa Fernandez/Courtney Meredith (WF), 8-4
Match Notes
NC State- 11-15
Wake Forest- 14-13
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1) Singles (1,5,2,6,4,3)
Players Mentioned
