University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
No. 20 Tar Heels Edge No. 23 Yellow Jackets In ITA Kickoff
January 29, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 29, 2011
ATHENS, Ga.- The North Carolina men's tennis team is off to a 2-0 start in 2011 after a hard-fought, 4-3 victory over No. 23 Georgia Tech Saturday in the first match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend.
Head coach Sam Paul was proud of his team's win over a tough ACC opponent so early in the season.
"I'm just really proud of the fight and determination the guys showed today against a real senior-laden team," Paul said. "It was a great win for us against a very good Georgia Tech team."
The Tar Heels knew they were in for a fight as early as doubles. Georgia Tech struck first, winning at No. 3 when the pair of Guillermo Gomez and Dean O'Brien defeated Cameron Ahari and William Parker 8-5.
UNC would not be denied, however, and showed their toughness by pulling out the next two to clinch the point. First, the No. 1 pairing of Brennan Boyajian and Jose Hernandez, who were coming off the National Collegiate Tennis Classic title, defeated the No. 8-ranked pair of Kevin King and Juan Spir 8-6.
"That win at No. 1 doubles really set the tone for the match," Paul said of the massive upset.
At No. 2 doubles, Stefan Hardy and Zach Hunter clinched the point with a 9-7 win over Georgia Tech's Eliot Potvin and Ryan Smith. Hardy, who last year was named an All-American for his doubles play, picked up right where he left off last season.
In singles, the upset, come-from-behind trend continued. After Cameron Ahari and Stefan Hardy lost their matches in straight sets, Georgia Tech took the overall lead, 2-1. But No. 30 Hernandez notched the match at 2-all with an outstanding win over No. 13 Gomez at No. 1, fighting through three sets to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. Gomez, a senior, was previously undefeated against the Tar Heels in singles play.
Boyajian followed Hernandez with a three-set victory of his own, downing Potvin at No. 3 singles 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
After Kyle Baker dropped his match at No. 5, the match was tied at 3-3, and the outcome would be decided at No. 6 singles, where William Parker and No. 93 Dusan Milievic were deep in the third set. Parker, who didn't compete in a dual-match last year, showed his mettle Saturday, upsetting Milievic in a thriller 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4.
The Tar Heels continue at the ITA Kickoff tomorrow against either host No. 11 Georgia or No. 55 Oklahoma State. North Carolina will face Georgia Tech again in ACC regular season play on April 10 in Atlanta.
No. 20 UNC 4, No. 23 Ga. Tech 3 Records: UNC 2-0, GT 2-1
Singles:
1. #30 Jose Hernandez (UNC) def. #13 Guillermo Gomez (GT) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
2. #48 Juan Spir (GT) def. #103 Stefan Hardy (UNC) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
3. #90 Brennan Boyijan (UNC) def. Eliot Potvin (GT) 4-6, 7-6 (5-7), 7-6 (5-7)
4. Kevin King (GT) def. #58 Cameron Ahari (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Magin Ortiga (GT) def. Kyle Baker (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
6. William Parker (UNC) def. #93 Dusan Miljevic (GT) 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles:
1. Brennan Boyijan/Jose Hernandez (UNC) def. #8 Kevin King/Juan Spir (GT) 8-6
2. Stefan Hardy/Zach Hunter (UNC) def. Eliot Potvin/Ryan Smith (GT) 9-7
3. Guillermo Gomez/Dean O'Brien (GT) def. Cameron Ahari/William Parker (UNC) 8-5
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 3, 1, 2
Singles: 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, 6
Players Mentioned
