The North Carolina men’s tennis team concluded play at the ITA Men’s All-American Championships on Friday, Oct. 11, with sophomore Brian Cernoch advancing as far as the singles consolation quarterfinals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What happened?
The action started on Saturday, Oct. 5 for North Carolina when senior Ladd Harrison lost in the pre-qualifying round, 3-6, 6-4 and 3-6.
Senior Simon Soendergaard won his first-round qualifying matchup on Monday with decisions of 6-3 and 6-3, advancing to Tuesday’s second round. Junior Mac Kiger dropped his first-round qualifier, 6-1 and 6-3.
North Carolina rebounded on Tuesday, led by Soendergaard as he advanced to the final round of qualifiers, 7-6(2), 6-7(4) and 6-1. Soendergaard pushed into the main draw after another clutch match, 6-3, 0-6 and 6-4. Teaming with Kiger in doubles competition, the duo swept Baylor in the qualifying round with wins of 6-3 and 6-1.
On Wednesday, North Carolina had senior Josh Peck, Soendergaard and Cernoch all in singles competition. Peck advanced to the second round on scores of 6-4 and 7-5, but Cernoch lost 6-3, 7-5, while Soendergaard lost 6-4 and 6-3. In doubles competition, Kiger and Soendergaard dropped their round with consecutive defeats, 6-2 and 6-3.
Peck lost in the second round on Thursday, 3-6, 6-4 and 0-6. In the consolation bracket, Cernoch advanced in the singles competition round of 32. In the doubles consolation bracket Kiger and Soendergaard won 6-0 and 6-4 in their match.
The event concluded for North Carolina on Friday. Cernoch advanced to the consolation quarterfinals with victories of 6-4 and 6-3 in his round. But Cernoch fell in the quarterfinals, 1-6, 6-4, 3-6. In the doubles consolation quarterfinals the duo of Kiger and Soendergaard also lost.
