UNC Women’s Tennis Set for Heavyweight Showdown with Defending Champs Georgia
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The stage is set for a top-tier clash in college tennis as No. 3 North Carolina welcomes No.
1 Georgia to the Chewning Tennis Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. It’s a matchup loaded with star power, momentum, and recent history-exactly the kind of early-season battle that can shape the national conversation.
The Tar Heels come into the showdown riding high after a gritty 4-3 win over No. 9 NC State on Friday. Senior standout Reese Brantmeier delivered the clincher in singles, continuing her dominant start to the year and reminding everyone why she’s the top-ranked singles player in the country.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for either program. In fact, UNC has had Georgia’s number more often than not in recent years, winning six of their last seven meetings.
But the most recent memory favors the Bulldogs-Georgia swept Carolina 4-0 in the NCAA Championship Semifinals last spring before capturing the national title. That result came just months after UNC had edged them 4-3 in Athens earlier in the season.
So yes, this one’s personal.
Star Power on Both Sides
Sunday’s duel won’t be short on talent. Between the two teams, 11 players are currently ranked in the ITA singles rankings-five for Carolina and six for Georgia. Add in four ranked doubles pairings for the Tar Heels alone, and you’ve got a matchup that’s as deep as it is high-profile.
For UNC, it starts with Brantmeier. Not only is she ranked No. 1 in singles, but she’s also fresh off being named ACC Player of the Week on January 27 after notching two ranked singles wins.
She and partner Alanis Hamilton also took home ACC Doubles Team of the Week honors after knocking off ranked duos from Virginia and Charlotte. The senior duo is 4-1 on the season and proving to be one of the most reliable pairings in the country.
Brantmeier’s resume speaks for itself: 2025 NCAA Singles National Champion, eight-time All-American, and the anchor of a team with championship aspirations. But she’s far from alone.
Graduate student Oby Kajuru is making her presence felt in a big way. She was named ACC Player of the Week on January 20 after taking down No.
5 Savannah Dada-Mascoll of App State-UNC’s first ranked singles win of the season. Kajuru enters Sunday ranked No. 23 in the nation and is part of the No. 3-ranked doubles team with partner Abbey Maltby.
Freshman Anna Frey has also made an immediate impact, starting her college career 6-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles alongside Tatum Evans. Speaking of Evans, she’s ranked No. 35 in singles, while teammates Carson Tanguilig Rabman (No. 51) and Hamilton (No. 69) round out a stacked singles lineup for the Tar Heels.
In doubles, UNC is just as dangerous. In addition to Kajuru/Maltby and Brantmeier/Hamilton, the teams of Abbey Rennard/Elizabeth Boyce (No. 42) and Evans/Rabman (No. 49) are all nationally ranked, giving Carolina unmatched depth across the board.
A Milestone Season in Motion
Head coach Brian Kalbas continues to cement his legacy. With the team’s win over App State earlier this season, Kalbas reached the 800-win milestone-a feat achieved by only two other coaches in NCAA tennis history. He remains the winningest active coach in the sport and has his squad poised for another deep postseason run.
Carolina has already collected ranked wins over No. 14 Virginia and No.
9 NC State this season, and they’ve held steady at No. 3 in the ITA Team Rankings for three straight weeks. Sunday’s matchup with Georgia offers a chance to make a national statement-and perhaps even a little payback.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just a marquee matchup-it’s a measuring stick for both programs. For UNC, it’s an opportunity to prove they’re not just contenders, but the team to beat. For Georgia, it’s a chance to reinforce their title defense and show that last season’s semifinal win wasn’t a one-off.
Expect high-level tennis, emotional intensity, and no shortage of storylines when these two heavyweights take the court. With postseason implications already looming, Sunday in Chapel Hill feels like more than just a regular-season match-it feels like a preview of something bigger.