The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472609
JULY/AUGUST 2022 ■ 41 Achong and Eden Richardson of Miami (Fla.) in the title match 6-2, 7-5. The victory was the culmination of a standout career for Daniel. In three seasons with the Wolfpack, she amassed 62 victories in singles competition and 79 in doubles, ranking ninth in program history in the former category and fifth in the latter. This year, she was one of only five players nationally to earn All-America honors in both singles and doubles, and she received the Most Improved Senior award from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. She and Miller went into the NCAA Tournament seeded first and ended up defeating doubles teams from Okla- homa, Vanderbilt and Pepperdine be- fore facing the Hurricanes duo and claiming a deeply satisfying title. "I knew it was my last season, so we just wanted to do the best we could," Daniel said. "Looking back now, how do you expect that result? You just go out there and you play and you compete. It was so fun playing with Nell. Every match was different, and we just found solutions." Daniel and Miller each found their way to Raleigh after starting their collegiate careers elsewhere. Daniel, who grew up in Newtown Square, Pa., began at Auburn and spent two seasons with the Tigers before decid- ing to move on. She landed at NC State because she liked its academic offerings — she wants to go to law school eventually — and thought she would have a chance to thrive in its tennis program. "It had a great balance of the things I wanted," she said. In her first two seasons with the Wolfpack, Daniel shined in singles play while also teaming up with Adriana Reami to compile a combined re- cord of 45-13 in doubles. The two qualified for the NCAA Tourna- ment in 2021 and earned All- America notice. This past winter, Miller transferred in from Texas Tech, where she had won 45 singles and 48 doubles matches in three seasons. One of those singles victories was against Daniel. The two had faced each other in February 2020, with Miller, a native of Kent, England, winning 6-0, 6-0. When Miller arrived at NC State, Daniel liked how their games and per- sonalities meshed. "From the very beginning, our dy- namic was really strong," she said. "We have the same principles and same de- sire and work ethic. We were really put- ting in the time with one another, not just on the court but off the court to really connect so that we could commu- nicate and have that good relationship that you need with a doubles partner." They opened the 2022 season in Janu- ary with a 6-4 victory over a team from Vanderbilt at the Miami Spring Invite. It turned out to be a harbinger. Daniel and Miller rolled to a 27-5 record, with 14 of their wins coming against ranked opponents. " I re m e m b e r t h i n k i n g m i dway through the season, once we started getting up there in the rankings, 'I met you just three months ago. It's kind of crazy,'" Daniel said. "But it really just shows that our tennis games really complemented each other, and also, we were able to connect as people and that helped in tough moments." Miller kept on rolling after the col- lege season ended. In June, she re- ceived a wildcard invitation to Wimbledon, where she took part in the ladies' doubles com- petition with partner Sonay Kartal. Daniel, meanwhile, was working out with her sister in the hope of taking her tennis career to the next level. Jeannez is three years older than Jaeda and was a talented collegiate player who co m p e te d fo r Ap pa l a c h i a n State, Colorado and the Uni- versity of Texas at El Paso. The competitive drive that the sis- ters share has been a big part of their success. When they were growing up, Jaeda recalled, "There were no days where you could just show up and pass the time. You really had to be on it. "I love her for that, because it defi- nitely made me the person I am. It's really about putting in the work. I'm a firm believer that when you are that way and you're consistent about it, good things will happen for you." ■ Daniel, a transfer from Auburn in her third season with the Wolfpack, meshed seamlessly with Miller, a first-year transfer from Texas Tech. COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS