The Wolfpack’s (6-0) first match against a top-25 opponent resulted in its first ranked victory of the season. While the final scoreline read 4-3, the red-and-white clinched the win at 4-2 despite having lost the early doubles point to the Volunteers (5-2).
While the Wolfpack easily made its way through Alabama and Clemson to earn a berth in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Seattle, the Volunteers were upset in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. Even with a chip on its shoulder, Tennessee couldn’t defeat the Wolfpack in Knoxville. However, the Volunteers took NC State to the brink with five out of six singles matches going to three sets.
NC State lost the early doubles point — a surprise for one of the nation’s best doubles team. However, the Pack quickly rebounded, winning four singles matches — three of which were in three sets — to remain undefeated on the season.
With NC State leading 3-2, senior Gina Dittmann clinched the victory with a 0-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win on court six. Despite getting blanked in her first set, the senior rebounded with a clutch tiebreak win and a solid third set to end it.
Before Dittmann clinched the contest for NC State, the Wolfpack had to dig itself out of a 1-0 hole after losing the doubles point. The No. 7 pair of senior Amelia Rajecki and freshman Maddy Zampardo started the doubles round, defeating their opponents 6-3.
However, Tennessee won the next two matches to clinch the point. First, the Volunteers sat down the No. 52 pair of freshman Gabriella Broadfoot and senior Abigail Rencheli, then the No. 9 pair of sophomore Anna Zyryanova and senior Sophie Abrams lost 7-5, in a tense battle with their Volunteer opponents.
NC State quickly countered once singles started. No. 40 Zyryanova raced through her first set and won 6-0, 6-4 to even the score at 1-1. From there, the rest of the day’s singles matches turned into intense, three-set bouts.
No. 19 Abrams turned in the first three-set victory for NC State. The experienced senior won 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 to double the Pack’s lead. Her fellow senior, No. 27 Rencheli, dropped her first set but stormed back in her next two, beating No. 91 Alana Wolfberg 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
The Pack quickly turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead with its singles play. Even with Tennessee’s No. 92 Sofia Cabezas earning a rare win over No. 3 Rajecki in three sets, Dittmann put the Volunteers down for good with her three-setter on court six.
Tennessee won the remaining court, where No. 116 Zampardo was in a ranked battle of her own. The freshman lost in three sets, but NC State had already clinched the victory.
With the first leg of its month-long road trip down, NC State is set to travel to Seattle for the ITA National Indoors starting on Friday, Feb. 9.
