Akli Tops Undefeated Tar Heel to Advance to Round Two of NCAA Championship
5/23/2021 7:08:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. - No. 46 Ayana Akli defeated No. 36 Fiona Crawley of North Carolina in straight sets (7-5, 7-5) on Sunday to advance to the second round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship. Akli moves to 15-3 on the season, and handed Crawley her first loss of the season (previously 30-0) in the process.
"What a great win for Ayana this evening," head coach Katie Dougherty said. "She played extremely disciplined tennis and stepped up when she needed to. Fiona is an exceptional player that had a phenomenal year. Ayana came in prepared and believing she could win. Im proud of the fight and grit she showed out there today."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET 1
The Terp will face the winner of the match between Pepperdine's Ashley Lahey and NC State's Anna Rogers on Monday, May 24. Time to be announced.
"What a great win for Ayana this evening," head coach Katie Dougherty said. "She played extremely disciplined tennis and stepped up when she needed to. Fiona is an exceptional player that had a phenomenal year. Ayana came in prepared and believing she could win. Im proud of the fight and grit she showed out there today."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET 1
- Crawley started off strong, putting the first three points up against the Terp
- Akli battled back quickly, adding two points of her own to bring things within one
- The Tar Heel responded with a point to put herself up 4-3, but a serving error on her part tied things up at four-a-piece
- Akli took charge and put herself in the lead 5-4, until Crawley did the same to bring the pair to a second tie of the set
- The Terp took the next two points and the set 7-5
- Akli kept her momentum going in the second set, taking the first point and putting herself up 1-0 against Crawley
- Crawley came back to tie things 1-1, Akli answered back with another two points to make things 3-1
- After a back and forth battle eventually leading to the set tied up at five each, Akli once again took the deciding point to set herself up 6-5
- Akli took the set and the match 7-5 after Crawley sent her ball out of bounds
The Terp will face the winner of the match between Pepperdine's Ashley Lahey and NC State's Anna Rogers on Monday, May 24. Time to be announced.
Players Mentioned
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