WACO, Texas - Carol Zhao came up one step short in her bid for an NCAA singles crown, falling 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to North Carolina’s Jamie Loeb on Monday afternoon.
Trailing 4-3 in the second set, Zhao won three straight games and suddenly found herself in position to win a three-setter for the second straight day. After all, Zhao had trailed Florida’s Josie Kuhlman 4-3 in the second set of Sunday’s semifinal before going the distance for a victory.
But after a 1-1 tie to begin the third set, Loeb won five games in a row to secure the title. Zhao had entered Monday’s contest with an 11-1 career record in three-set matches, including a 9-1 mark this season.
Zhao was attempting to become Stanford’s first NCAA singles champion since Nicole Gibbs in 2013. The Cardinal has produced 16 all-time collegiate singles champions (14 NCAA, 2 AIAW).
An All-American for the second consecutive season, Zhao had won 15 in a row since her last loss back on March 22 against USC’s Sabrina Santamaria. Zhao concludes her sophomore season at 35-5 overall, 21-2 in duals (all at the No. 1 spot), 14-3 in tournament play and 22-3 against nationally-ranked opponents.
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No. 2 Carol Zhao
First Round - May 20: d. No. 48 Paige Hourigan (GATECH) 6-1, 6-1
Second Round - May 21: d. No. 85 Sophie Watts (FS) 6-0, 6-2
Round of 16 - May 22: d. No. 43 Zsofi Susanyi (CAL) 6-2, 6-0
Quarterfinals – May 23: d. No. 21 Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA) 6-4, 7-5
Semifinals – May 24: d. No. 13 Josie Kuhlman (FLA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
Championship – May 25: lost to No. 7 Jamie Loeb (UNC) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
No. 25 Caroline Doyle
First Round - May 20: d. No. 77 Despoina Vogasari (HOU) 6-3, 6-4
Second Round - May 21: lost to No. 1 Robin Anderson (UCLA) 6-2, 6-4
No. 19 Taylor Davidson
First Round - May 20: lost to No. 15 Danielle Collins (UVA) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao
First Round - May 21: d. No. 15 Emina Bektas/Alex Najarian (MICH) 6-4, 6-2
Round of 16 – May 22: d. No. 16 Jamie Loeb/Caroline Price (UNC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Quarterfinals – May 23: lost to No. 6 Brooke Austin/Kourtney Keegan (FLA) 6-0, 1-6, 6-4
No. 10 Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay
First Round - May 21: d. No. 22 Joanna Henderson/Caitlyn Williams (TENN) 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-2
Round of 16 – May 22: d. No. 7 Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (CAL) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
Quarterfinals – May 23: d. No. 4 Beatrice Gumulya/Jessy Rompies (CLEM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Semifinals – May 24: lost to No. 1 Maya Jensen/Erin Routliffe (ALA) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
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No. 26 Tom Fawcett
First Round - May 20: lost to No. 6 Noah Rubin (WAKE) 7-5, 6-4
No. 9 John Morrissey/Robert Stineman
First Round - May 21: lost to No. 21 Marko Krickovic/Lukas Ollert (AUB) 7-5, 6-3
