North Carolina State University Athletics
Rogers and Smith Advance to NCAA Championships Sweet 16
5/21/2019 8:21:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – Anna Rogers and Alana Smith, the seventh-ranked doubles duo in the nation, defeated 21st-ranked duo Hana Mraz and Julia Rosenqvist of California to advance to the NCAA Championships Sweet 16 on Tuesday evening. The Pack's doubles tandem improves to 34-5 on the season.
The duo's 6-7 (4), 6-3, 1-0 (6) victory marked its 15th nationally-ranked victory of the 2019 campaign and brought its record against top-25 opponents to 6-1. With the win, Rogers notched her 100th career doubles win, a program-best in the category.
The Pack's progression into the next round of the tournament marks the third consecutive season that the team will be represented in the round of 16. Rogers has participated in all three trips.
NC State dropped the first set after losing a 4-2 lead as California forced the first-set tiebreak. Rogers and Smith stormed back in the second set, taking a commanding 4-1 lead. The Pack eventually earned a 6-3 decision.
In the 10-point tiebreak, the Pack remained steady off its victorious second set, advancing to the sweet 16 after a 10-6 decision.
No. 10 Rogers fell to Duke's No. 21 Kelly Chen in the second round of the NCAA Championships on Tuesday, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. With the win, Chen advances to the round of 16 to be played on Wednesday.
The loss concluded an impressive singles season for the Stamford, Conn., native, ending the 2019 campaign with a 31-15 record. A First Team All-ACC honoree, Rogers became the third player in program history to advance to the second round of the singles championships after defeating No. 59 Emma Antonaki (Mississippi St.) in straight sets on Monday afternoon for her 18th ranked singles win of the season.
Rogers was tabbed at No. 8 in the Oracle/ITA Division I rankings at one point in the season, marking the highest ranking ever for a Pack player.
In the first set, Chen got off to a hot start, taking a 3-1 lead before Rogers stormed back to even the set at five games. The Duke sophomore broke and then held serve to capture the first set.
Rogers won the second-set opening game, but Chen took the next three games. Down two breaks at 4-2, the junior made up ground with a break and hold of her own to bring the set to four-all and finished the set strong with back-to-back games to force a third set.
With the deciding set tied at three games, Chen rattled off three straight games to advance to the round of 16.
Up Next
Rogers and Smith will face No. 31 Sofia Blanco and Catherine Gulihur (Oklahoma State) on Wednesday, May 22 in the round of 16.
#GoPack | @PackWTennis
The duo's 6-7 (4), 6-3, 1-0 (6) victory marked its 15th nationally-ranked victory of the 2019 campaign and brought its record against top-25 opponents to 6-1. With the win, Rogers notched her 100th career doubles win, a program-best in the category.
The Pack's progression into the next round of the tournament marks the third consecutive season that the team will be represented in the round of 16. Rogers has participated in all three trips.
Anna & Alana @PackWTennis advance with a hard fought win over Cal to the #NCAATennis Sweet 1️⃣6️⃣ Here are their thoughts on today's win.... pic.twitter.com/S5I3mzzGVe
— Simon Earnshaw (@CoachEarnshaw) May 22, 2019
NC State dropped the first set after losing a 4-2 lead as California forced the first-set tiebreak. Rogers and Smith stormed back in the second set, taking a commanding 4-1 lead. The Pack eventually earned a 6-3 decision.
In the 10-point tiebreak, the Pack remained steady off its victorious second set, advancing to the sweet 16 after a 10-6 decision.
No. 10 Rogers fell to Duke's No. 21 Kelly Chen in the second round of the NCAA Championships on Tuesday, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. With the win, Chen advances to the round of 16 to be played on Wednesday.
The loss concluded an impressive singles season for the Stamford, Conn., native, ending the 2019 campaign with a 31-15 record. A First Team All-ACC honoree, Rogers became the third player in program history to advance to the second round of the singles championships after defeating No. 59 Emma Antonaki (Mississippi St.) in straight sets on Monday afternoon for her 18th ranked singles win of the season.
Rogers was tabbed at No. 8 in the Oracle/ITA Division I rankings at one point in the season, marking the highest ranking ever for a Pack player.
In the first set, Chen got off to a hot start, taking a 3-1 lead before Rogers stormed back to even the set at five games. The Duke sophomore broke and then held serve to capture the first set.
Rogers won the second-set opening game, but Chen took the next three games. Down two breaks at 4-2, the junior made up ground with a break and hold of her own to bring the set to four-all and finished the set strong with back-to-back games to force a third set.
With the deciding set tied at three games, Chen rattled off three straight games to advance to the round of 16.
Up Next
Rogers and Smith will face No. 31 Sofia Blanco and Catherine Gulihur (Oklahoma State) on Wednesday, May 22 in the round of 16.
#GoPack | @PackWTennis
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
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