The No. 5 North Carolina men’s tennis team won 6-1 against Virginia on Sunday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
What happened?
The Tar Heels (14-4, 5-1 ACC) took an early lead after winning two-of-three doubles matches.
To begin the competition, sophomore Simon Soendergaard and first-year Mac Kiger took an early 4-2 lead over the Cavaliers (11-7, 4-3 ACC). The Cavaliers tried to fight back and scored another point to make the game 4-3. But the Tar Heels rebounded and won, 6-3.
On Court One, No. 3 doubles partners sophomore William Blumberg and senior Robert Kelly clinched the doubles point. Blumberg and Kelly took an early 5-1 lead over the Cavaliers and never looked back. They would go on to win, 6-2. With the Tar Heels winning the first two doubles matches, first-year Benjamin Sigouin and junior Blaine Boyden’s match went unfinished.
Heading into individual play, the Tar Heels had a 1-0 doubles point lead. In individual play, the Tar Heels kept their momentum, going winning five-of-six opening sets.
Kelly won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to give UNC its second point. On Court Six, Kiger also won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to give the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead over the Cavaliers.
On Court Two, No. 34 Sigouin won in straight sets for the Tar Heels, 6-4, 6-3, giving UNC a decisive 4-0 lead.
Although the Tar Heels had clinched the victory, three individual matches were still undecided to this point. On Court One, No. 2 Blumberg took an early lead 4-1 in the first set and never looked back. Blumberg ended up winning his first set 6-1. In the second set, Blumberg faced an early 4-1 deficit and ultimately lost, 6-4. After the tough second set, Blumberg rallied back to take an early 4-2 lead in the third set and ultimately won, 6-2.
