Brayden Schnur a tournament talent for UNC at the ITA Carolinas Regional

Brayden Schnur brought his A-game this weekend.

The North Carolina men’s tennis team took a trip to Cary to take part in the ITA Carolinas Regional tournament, which began Thursday. Ten players participated in the singles tournament, and five doubles teams took up their racquets for doubles play.

Three UNC singles players and three doubles teams reached the quarterfinals.

Schnur, a sophomore, had a phenomenal tournament, winning the singles finals against Duke senior Jason Tahir 6-3, 6-2.

Coach Sam Paul said he was impressed with Schnur’s play.

“Overall a good tournament, obviously happy for Brayden” Paul said. “He’s getting stronger, you can see his commitment to the weight room.”

Despite his victory, Schnur said he still wants to improve parts of his game.

“(I’m focused on) developing my net skills and my skills around the net,” Schnur said.

Because he won this tournament, Schnur will get to compete in New York at the ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. He said he’s excited about having the opportunity to compete against some of the best talent the nation can offer at the biggest venue in America: Flushing Meadows, the site of the U.S. Open.

Schnur was also part of a doubles team with junior Brett Clark that reached the semifinals before being defeated by Alejandro Augusto and Hunter Harrington from Clemson 4-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (7).

Senior Oystein Steiro made it all the way to the singles quarterfinals before being defeated by Duke’s Raphael Hemmeler 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-3.

Steiro and his doubles partner Robert Kelly performed well in the doubles tournament, making it to the quarterfinals before also falling short against Augusto and Harrington from Clemson 8-4.

Sophomore Ronnie Schneider was the third Tar Heel to reach the singles quarterfinals. He had only lost one set during the whole tournament before losing to Nicolas Alvarez of Duke 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I had some tough matches along the way,” Schneider said. “I did a good job fighting back.”

The team of Esben Hess-Olesen and Maik Ulrich was the third Tar Heel doubles team to reach the quarterfinals. After winning two of their first three matches in tiebreakers, they fell to Duke’s formidable pairing of Alvarez and Hemmeler 8-2.

When asked about where the team needs improvement, Paul and Schneider were in agreement.

“It’s about better shot selection and understanding their game,” Paul said.

And while Schneider said this was a big tournament, he said he also knows it pales in comparison to what is coming next year.

“It’s going to be good for everyone to see the tape,” Schneider said.

The win has Schnur excited for the season to start in the spring.

“The team is looking very good this year, knock on wood.”

sports@dailytarheel.com