Pack Punches Ticket to Third-Straight NCAA Championships Quarterfinals Appearance

RALEIGH — Fourth-ranked NC State women’s tennis (26-4) is headed to the NCAA Championships quarterfinals for the third-straight year as it beat 18th-ranked Auburn (20-9) by a 4-0 score on Saturday afternoon.

The 2023 ACC Champions took advantage of an incredible home atmosphere at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center as they played in Raleigh for the last time this season before heading to Florida for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.

NC State set the tone in doubles action with a 6-1 win on the top court and a 6-3 decision at the No. 2 spot. Wolfpack Nation then fueled the squad through quite a few tight first sets, with NC State ultimately going up a frame on five of six courts in singles action.

Sophie Abrams added to the Pack’s point tally quickly in singles action. The NC State junior breezed through a 6-1, 6-1 match against Kaitlyn Carnicella to keep momentum in favor of the home team.

In a top-25 showdown on court two, Alana Smith emerged victorious over Carolyn Ansari by a 7-5, 6-0 score to put NC State a match away from the clinch. Smith got a big break to go up 6-5 in the first set before serving it out and then did not drop a game in the second frame.

Both Diana Shnaider and Gina Dittmann were in position to claim the Pack’s fourth and final point in the match, but it was Shnaider who closed out the 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over Ariana Arseneault on court one to clinch the match.

The Pack’s 4-0 final score over the Tigers marked its second season in a row blanking a team in NCAA Super Regional action.

The remaining rounds of the 2023 NAA Championships, including all singles and doubles competition following the team tournament, will be played at the USTA National campus in Lake Nona, Fla. NC State moves on to play No. 12 Iowa State in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 17. The time for that match will be posted on the GoPack.com schedule page when it is announced.

RESULTS:

#4 NC State 4, #18 Auburn 0

Doubles Results

Order of finish: 1,2

1. #4 Diana Shnaider/Alana Smith (NCSU) def. #31 Carolyn Ansari/Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 6-1

2. #9 Nell Miller/Amelia Rajecki (NCSU) def. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 6-3

3. Angella Okutoyi/Adeline Flach (AUB) vs. Abigail Rencheli/Sophie Abrams (NCSU) 5-3, unfinished