March 12, 2008

SAN JUAN, P.R. --- No. 11 North Carolina opened its Spring Break trip to Puerto Rico with a 7-0 win over in-state rival No. 68 East Carolina Wednesday afternoon at the Palmas Del Mar Resort. The Tar Heels captured all six singles matches as well as two of three doubles matches to easily dispatch the Pirates (11-2).

No. 6 Sophie Grabinski and Sanaz Marand topped Alex Smith and Brooke Walter, 8-6, at No. 1 doubles to give Carolina (10-4) an early lead in doubles play. Laura Reichert and Katrina Tsang finished off Hannah Priest and Varinia Soler, 8-4, shortly thereafter to secure the point for the Tar Heels.

No. 26 Tsang was first off the court in singles action, as the Raleigh, N.C., freshman, rolled past Jessica Cook at No. 1, 6-1, 6-1. Reichert, playing at the No. 3 position for the first time this spring, made it 3-0 in favor of UNC with a 6-1, 6-1, win over Mireia Gol. Junior Meg Fanjoy's 6-1, 6-0 win over Luiza Borges at No. 5 clinched the dual match victory.

Senior Alexandra Jurewitz, No. 10 Marand and Grabinski also posted straight-set wins to complete the Carolina sweep. After a few days off, UNC will face Princeton and Illinois Saturday and Sunday.

DOUBLES
1. #6 Grabinski/Marand (UNC) def. Alex Smith/Walter (ECU), 8-6
2. Reichert/Tsang (UNC) def. Hannah Priest/Soler (ECU), 8-4
3. Borges/Gol (ECU) def. Fanjoy/Linzee Mabrey (UNC), 8-7 (5)

SINGLES
1. #26 Katrina Tsang (UNC) def. Jessica Cook (ECU), 6-1, 6-1
2. #10 Sanaz Marand (UNC) def. Varinia Soler (ECU), 6-0, 7-5
3. Laura Reichert (UNC) def. Mireia Gol (ECU), 6-1, 6-1
4. Sophie Grabinski (UNC) def. Brooke Walter (ECU), 6-3, 6-1
5. Meg Fanjoy (UNC) def. Luiza Borges (ECU), 6-1, 6-0
6. Alexandra Jurewitz (UNC) def. Tamara Sachs (ECU), 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 1,3,5,6,2,4