Wolfpack Rolls On: No. 12 NC State Women’s Tennis Ousts No. 25 Notre Dame in ACC Quarterfinals

The NC State women’s tennis team entered the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament with high expectations and a hunger to prove they’re still a national contender. On Friday in Cary, North Carolina, the No. 12 Wolfpack delivered a statement performance, defeating No. 25 Notre Dame 4-1 in the ACC Quarterfinals to move one step closer to a second league title in three seasons.

This wasn’t just any quarterfinal match. This was about reasserting dominance and reaffirming belief. NC State, a team with championship pedigree and loaded with experience, came into the postseason riding a wave of momentum. Since late March, the Wolfpack have looked the part of a team rounding into form at just the right time. The win over the Fighting Irish added another chapter to a spring filled with grit, precision, and belief.

The doubles point set the tone for what would ultimately be a strong showing across the board. NC State’s doubles play has been an X-factor all season, and Friday was no different. Veteran duo Sophie Abrams and Abigail Rencheli quickly found their rhythm, attacking with aggressive net play and complementing each other’s strengths in a way only seasoned teammates can. They posted a 6-2 win on Court 2, building early momentum for the Wolfpack and putting pressure on Notre Dame to respond.

On Court 3, the pairing of Amelia Rajecki and Nell Miller—two of the most experienced players on the team—clinched the doubles point for NC State with a 6-3 win. It was a clinical display of consistency and poise under pressure. Their service games were particularly effective, and when opportunities to break came, they capitalized with surgical precision.

The early 1-0 advantage gave NC State breathing room heading into singles, and the team never looked back.

Rajecki, the senior from Nottingham, England, showed why she’s considered one of the most reliable top-line players in the country. Taking on Notre Dame’s Ace Berrier on Court 1, Rajecki put together one of her finest performances of the spring. Her forehand dictated rallies, and she constantly moved her opponent side to side, forcing errors and draining any momentum the Irish tried to generate. Rajecki won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, giving the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead and firing up her teammates in the process.

The third point came not long after from Abrams, who followed up her doubles dominance with an equally confident singles display. Facing a tricky opponent in Brooke Broda, Abrams relied on first-serve accuracy and baseline patience. She played within herself and avoided the temptation to overhit, instead waiting for the right moments to attack. Her 6-3, 6-2 victory gave NC State a commanding 3-0 advantage, placing Notre Dame on the brink.

To their credit, the Fighting Irish didn’t fold.

Notre Dame’s lone point came from its standout sophomore, Emma Jackson, who delivered an inspired performance on Court 4. Taking on NC State’s Millie Bissett, Jackson came out firing, using her strong two-handed backhand and quick footwork to pressure Bissett early and often. She controlled tempo and dictated rallies, frustrating Bissett in key moments. Jackson took the match 6-4, 6-3, briefly breathing life into the Irish hopes and cutting the deficit to 3-1.

But the surge was short-lived.

NC State’s clinching point came from Rencheli, who played with the fire and determination that have defined her career in Raleigh. On Court 5, she faced off against Notre Dame’s Olivia Yellayi, a rising star in the Irish lineup who had been quietly consistent all season. The first set was a battle, but Rencheli’s grit came through in the big moments. She edged it out 7-5, and in the second, she broke early and never looked back. With a final forehand winner down the line, Rencheli sealed the match 7-5, 6-3, sparking celebration from the NC State sideline and fans in attendance.

It was a fitting way to end the match—not flashy, but clinical, calculated, and complete.

For head coach Simon Earnshaw, the win was less about individual brilliance and more about team cohesion. Throughout the spring, Earnshaw has stressed the importance of depth and mental fortitude. That message was on full display Friday afternoon. Even with top players like Rajecki leading the charge, it’s the collective that makes the Wolfpack special.

“Every match in this league is a battle,” Earnshaw said postmatch. “We respect Notre Dame a lot—they’re very well coached, and they push you. But I’m proud of how our group came out today. We controlled what we could control, and I thought we stayed locked in from start to finish.”

With the win, NC State improves to 20-7 on the season and advances to the ACC Semifinals, where they’ll face either Duke or Virginia. For a team that reached the NCAA Championship match in 2023 and came heartbreakingly close to claiming the national crown, this postseason represents a shot at redemption—and perhaps, unfinished business.

There’s a maturity in this year’s squad that’s hard to ignore. Players like Rajecki and Miller bring not only experience but also a calm intensity that sets the tone for younger teammates. Rencheli, now a seasoned veteran, has taken on a leadership role both on and off the court. And in Abrams, they have a spark plug who thrives on competition.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, exits the ACC Tournament with a 16-10 record, and their NCAA Tournament hopes still intact. The Irish had a strong regular season in the ultra-competitive ACC, and despite the quarterfinal loss, their body of work likely secures them a place in the national bracket. Head coach Alison Silverio’s team showed flashes of brilliance this spring, and with a youthful core, the future in South Bend remains bright.

“I give credit to NC State—they played well today,” Silverio said. “We’ve had a great season, and I’m proud of our team’s fight. We’ll regroup and get ready for what’s next.”

For NC State, though, the goal is clear. This program has risen over the last half-decade to become a mainstay in the national title conversation. The ACC is no longer just about the traditional powers—NC State has rewritten that narrative. The 2021 ACC Champions and 2023 NCAA runners-up are chasing another trophy, and they appear to be peaking at the right time.

Friday’s performance underscored that point.

From the doubles to the clinching singles win, the Wolfpack handled their business with the poise of a team that’s been there before. It wasn’t flashy, and it wasn’t easy—but it was efficient. It was the kind of win that reminds everyone in college tennis just how dangerous NC State can be when everything clicks.

Next comes a semifinal challenge that will require even more focus and execution. Whether it’s a rematch with Duke or another high-stakes tilt against Virginia, NC State knows the road only gets tougher from here. But if Friday’s match was any indication, the Wolfpack are ready for whatever comes next.

They’ve been building to this moment all season—and perhaps even longer than that.

The Wolfpack’s hunt for hardware continues, and based on their quarterfinal performance, they’re very much alive and howling.