ATHENS, Georgia - Freshman Sara Daavettila took down a top 10 ranked opponent on Friday in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Singles Championship.
#18 Daavettila, victorious 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 over No. 10 Karla Popovic of the University of California, becomes just the seventh Tar Heel player to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles tournament. She also gives Carolina a quarterfinalist for the fifth year in a row, joining Gina Suarez-Malaguti (2013), Jamie Loeb (2014, 2015) and Hayley Carter (2014, 2016) who have reached the Elite 8 in recent seasons.
The ACC Freshman of the Year will now face #24 Brienne Minor of Michigan in a quarterfinal match on Saturday at the Dan Magill Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Georgia.