The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1087622
MARCH 2019 ■ 73 "She got a taste last year at what it takes to be successful at the top of the lineup," Earnshaw said. "Anna came back after the NCAAs after the doubles events and put in the work over the summer. "That continued into the fall. The results were pretty clear to see." Smith has also solidified the No. 2 singles spot, where she was also 8‑3 as of Feb. 26, while Reami has shifted from No. 2 to No. 3 singles. Earnshaw said Smith's ability to serve, add her feel for the game and athleticism set her apart. "We are very confident that she'll be im‑ pactful with what we do moving forward," Earnshaw noted. "She has all the tools. The big thing for her is to be more consistent and get more experience." Reami went 18‑8 last year at No. 2 sin‑ gles and was part of a 19‑10 doubles team with Rebol. Reami got off to an 8‑2 start in singles during dual action as of Feb. 26 and has returned to playing doubles with Rebol. Having Rogers, Smith and Reami at the top of the lineup bodes well for the Pack. "We are as strong as we have been with the three of them," Earnshaw said. Rebol has bounced back from an uneven 2017‑18 and has proven adept with her doubles skills. "The big thing for Amanda is keeping her body in one piece," Earnshaw said. "She just needs to be confident out there and not get too passive." The Moldovan and Norman pairing has gone 7‑2 between No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles in dual play as of Feb. 26. Indi‑ vidually, Moldovan was 8‑3, primarily at No. 5 singles, while Norman had compiled a 10‑2 mark mostly at No. 4 singles. ■ ■ Key Matches • Vs. Florida State, April 7 — The Seminoles were No. 15 in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division I rankings as of Feb. 26. NCSU topped FSU 4‑3 on the road in 2018. • At Duke, April 10 — The Blue Devils were ranked No. 3 nationally by the Oracle/ITA as of Feb. 26. Duke finished last year in the same spot at No. 3. NC State lost 5‑0 to Duke in the ACC Championships in 2018. • ACC Championships in Cary, N.C., April 17-21 — The ACC is loaded once again with UNC at No. 1, Duke at No. 3, NC State at No. 11 , FSU at No. 15, Miami at No. 19, Virginia at No. 20 and Syracuse at No. 27 in the Oracle/ITA rankings as of Feb. 26. The Tar Heels topped the Blue Devils 4‑2 to win the ACC title last year. Noting The Pack • NC State has been patient with senior Claudia Wiktorin, who is recovering from an injury. The Davidson, N.C., native was paired with Anna Rogers last year at No. 1 doubles, and the duo reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships. She has the most doubles victories (70) in school history and was at No. 9 in singles wins (53). Wiktorin partici‑ pated in the USTA Bahamas Invitational Sept. 14‑16 in Albany, Bahamas, but was sidelined until returning against James Madison Feb. 16. "We had a very hard time determining what the issue was, but it was both knees," head coach Simon Earnshaw said. "It proved to be a different thing in each one. I had never heard of it in any athlete." "You can see how she can really make a big difference this season." • Earnshaw wanted to test his squad early in the non‑conference slate with matches against Mississippi State, Florida and Texas Tech between Jan. 26 and Feb. 1. The Wolfpack topped the Bulldogs and Gators in Gainesville, and then won its home match against the Red Raiders. UF was ranked No. 11 at the time. That big stretch helped NC State climb to No. 14 in the country in the Oracle/ITA rankings. "We knew we'd get a good indicator of where we stood based on those matches," Earnshaw said. Newcomer To Watch Freshman Alana Smith The prized recruit from Fort Washington, Md., has seamlessly blended with star Anna Rogers on the No. 1 doubles team (19‑2 overall record). Smith has also emerged at No. 2 singles during the spring, going 8‑3 through Feb. 26. Three Players To Watch Sophomore Liz Norman The Terre Haute, Ind., native got off to a 10‑2 mark in dual meet singles play (7‑2 at the No. 4 spot) and was 21‑7 overall this season as of Feb. 26. She has joined Bianco Moldovan in doubles to go 7‑2 during dual play. The former five‑star recruit went 18‑1 in dual play last year at James Madison, where she was the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. Junior Adriana Reami Reami ended her sophomore year ranked No. 88 in the country and was the team MVP. She won 25 singles matches and was part of 22 doubles victories last year en route to third‑team All‑ACC honors. The Miami native went 18‑8 at No. 2 singles last year and was 19‑10 with Amanda Rebol in doubles (16‑6 at the No. 2 spot). Reami was 7‑1 in No. 3 singles in dual play as of Feb. 26. Junior Anna Rogers Rogers was named third‑team All‑ACC in both 2017 and 2018. She is a two‑time participant in the NCAA Doubles Championship, becoming the first player in program history to achieve that feat. The Stamford, Conn., product is off to an 8‑3 mark at No. 1 singles in dual play as of Feb. 26. She and freshman Alana Smith also were 19‑2 in doubles action with a 6‑0 mark against nationally ranked foes. Junior Anna Rogers has helped the Wolfpack ascend to a program-best No. 11 national ranking by excelling at both No. 1 singles (8-3 as of Feb. 26) and No. 1 doubles. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP