Oliveira and Williams Triumph Over Nation’s Elite Doubles Duo as Dukes Face Defeat at #6 UNC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – James Madison lost by a score of 7-0 to sixth-ranked North Carolina on Sunday at the Chewning Tennis Center, though the match was highlighted by the duo of Ines Oliveira and Sophie Williams achieving a doubles win against the nation’s top-ranked pair.
 
Oliveira and Williams excelled on court one, taking down UNC’s Susanna Maltby and Carson Tanguilig, who began the spring season as the nation’s #1 doubles team. After being tied at 1-1, the JMU pair surged ahead with five more wins, including a crucial deuce point while leading 4-1.
 
This marked JMU’s first triumph against ITA-ranked players since January 20, 2023, when Oliveira triumphed over #50 Elaine Chervinsky of Virginia in the 2023 spring opener (3-6, 6-2, 10-5).
 
Following a 6-0 triumph on court two, UNC narrowly secured the doubles point and a 1-0 match lead on court three, where the 20th-ranked Tatum Evans and Theadora Rabman clinched three consecutive games to defeat JMU’s Hope Moulin and Daria Munteanu, 6-4.
 
In singles, Carolina claimed five out of six singles matches in straight sets, as JMU faced off against three players currently in the top-25 singles rankings, in addition to its leading player, who concluded the 2024 season ranked #9 in the ITA standings.
 
With the contest already secured by the Tar Heels, Mia Saveljic almost took court five, staging a comeback in set two to force a super tiebreaker against Alanis Hamilton. During the super tiebreaker, Saveljic trailed 9-5 before saving four match points, bringing the score to 9-9.
 
After regaining the advantage due to a Saveljic double fault, Hamilton clinched the match with the game-winning point while serving. She edged Saveljic with scores of 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (11-9).
 
JMU will return to the court on Saturday, January 18 for another top-10 showdown, as they visit Charlottesville, Va., to compete against #9 Virginia. The first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
#6 North Carolina 7, JMU 0
Doubles Results
Court 1: Ines Oliveira/Sophie Williams (JMU) def. #1 Susanna Maltby/Carson Tanguilig (UNC), 6-1
Court 2: Reese Brantmeier/Alanis Hamilton (UNC) def. Elena Kraleva/Mia Saveljic (JMU), 6-0
Court 3: #20 Tatum Evans/Theadora Rabman (UNC) def. Hope Moulin, Daria Munteanu (JMU), 6-4
 
Singles Results
Court 1: Reese Brantmeier (UNC) def. Elena Kraleva (JMU), 6-1, 6-3
Court 2: #9 Theadora Rabman (UNC) def. Daria Munteanu (JMU), 6-2, 6-1
Court 3: #20 Carson Tanguilig (UNC) def. Ines Oliveira (JMU), 6-1, 6-2
Court 4: #23 Tatum Evans (UNC) def. Katie Codd (Duke), 6-1, 6-3
Court 5: Alanis Hamilton (UNC) def. Mia Saveljic (JMU), 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (11-9)
Court 6: Claire Hill def. Hope Moulin (JMU), 6-3, 6-1
 
Order of Results: Doubles (2, 1, 3*); Singles (6, 2, 3*, 1, 5, 4)