April 3, 2002

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 8th-ranked Tar Heels made a statement Wednesday night in defeating No. 3 Wake Forest, 4-3, Carolina women's tennis is a national contender.

In vanquishing their eighth ranked opponent of the season, and their first in the top five, Carolina clinched the match through the gutsy play of freshman Kendall Cline. With Carolina up three matches to two, Cline broke Danielle Schwartz's serve in the third set to claim a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory at flight six to seal the match. All this was after she teamed with fellow freshman Aniela Mojzis, who easily won her singles match 6-1, 6-1, to claim Carolina's lone doubles victory, 8-1.

"Kendall didn't play like a freshman today," said teammate Julie Rotondi after the victory was sealed.

Rotondi joined Kate Pinchbeck in defeating two of Wake Forest's nationally ranked players at the top of their powerful lineup. Rotondi swept No. 108 Karin Coetzee, 6-3, 7-5 and Pinchbeck roared back from a first set loss to beat 16th-ranked Janet Bergman, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. Pinchbeck's win improves her perfect spring record to 19-0.

"I was really upset after losing in doubles," Pinchbeck said. "I knew if I won my singles, we'd really have a chance. That third set was probably the best tennis I've ever played."

Head Coach Jen Callen said the team felt prepared to win, even after losing the doubles point.

"I have a lot of confidence in our doubles and singles," Callen said. "We've had so many great performances all season long and that confidence showed today. This is the first victory over a top five team, but it won't be the last."

The victory improves the Tar Heels record to 16-3 and 4-0 in the ACC. They'll have a chance to continue their perfect conference record with a road trip to Virginia on Saturday and Maryland on Sunday.

1. No. 1 Bea Bielik (WF) d. No. 28 Marlene Mejia (UNC), 6-4, 6-0

2. No. 27 Kate Pinchbeck (UNC) d. No. 16 Janet Bergman (WF), 4-6, 6-2, 6-0

3. No. 64 Julie Rotondi (UNC) d. No. 108 Karin Coetzee (WF), 6-3, 7-5

4. Aniela Mojzis (UNC) d. Maren Haus (WF), 6-1, 6-1

5. Katie Martzolf (WF) d. Lee Bairos (UNC), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

6. Kendall Cline (UNC) d. Danielle Schwartz (WF), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

Doubles

1. Bielik/Bergman (WF) d. Mejia/Rotondi (UNC), 8-3

2. Cline/Mojzis (UNC) d. Coetzee/Smith (WF), 8-1

3. Martzolf/Schwartz (WF) d. Bairos/Pinchbeck (UNC), 9-8 (5)