North Carolina
Clemson
Carolina Rolls Past Tigers 6-1
April 1, 2012 | Men's Tennis
April 1, 2012
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 24 North Carolina polished off Clemson 6-1 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Sunday, as the Tar Heels pushed their record to 9-5 (6-1 in ACC play). The win represented a fitting end for Senior Dight in which all five seniors -- Alex Rafiee, Brennan Boyajian, Cameron Ahari, Joey Burkhardt and Zach Hunter -- competed for the Tar Heels.
Carolina quickly claimed an early advantage with the doubles point victory, as Brennan Boyajian and Cameron Ahari led the charge at No. 2 doubles, dismissing Gerardo Meza and Zachary Rigsby by a 9-7 margin. At No. 1 doubles, #29 Jose Hernandez and Joey Burkhardt followed suit, breaking Yannick Maden and Ayrton Wibowo at 6-7 to secure an 8-6 Carolina victory. Meanwhile, Hunter and Rafiee battled tough but fell just short to Dominique Maden and Wes Moran at No. 3 doubles (8-5).
"Cameron and Brennan set the tone at No. 2 doubles, and then Joey, another senior at No. 1 doubles, gets it done. In singles, Parker was the first off the court [at No. 5 singles] and then Joey clinched it at No. 4 singles," said Coach Sam Paul. "It was a great senior day, and I'm really proud of them."
In singles play, junior William Parker took care of business first, taking down Hunter Harrington (6-3, 6-3) at No. 5 singles. Boyajian finished immediately after at No. 2 singles, efficiently knocking off Gerardo Meza (6-2, 6-2) with a senior-like effort.
Burkhardt then sealed the team victory for North Carolina, as the senior remained perfect in the second set to claim a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles.
With the team match in hand, freshman Oystein Steiro held strong at No. 6 singles, beating out Zachary Rigsby (6-3, 7-5). Unfortunately, fellow freshman Esben Hess-Olesen wasn't quite able to hold on, as the Viby, Denmark native dropped No. 3 singles to Ayrton Wibowo (6-4, 6-4).
No. 1 singles rounded out the action, as Hernandez battled back from a first set loss to take the match by a score of 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (4).
"This is the most complete match we've played all year," Paul said. "The kids have worked hard and are getting better. We've got some tough road matches ahead, but we're looking forward to them."
The Tar Heels will show down next with the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables, Florida on Friday at 3:00 PM.
#24 North Carolina 6, #64 Clemson 1
Doubles (Team Winning Majority Of Matches Earns One Team Point) Order of match finish: 2, 1, 3 1. #29 Jose Hernandez and Joey Burkhardt (UNC) d. Y. Maden/Wibowo (Clemson), 8-62. Brennan Boyajian and Cameron Ahari (UNC) d. Meza/Rigsby (Clemson), 9-7
3. D. Maden/Moran (Clemson) d. Zach Hunter and Alex Rafiee (UNC), 8-5Singles (One Team Point Per Singles Match)
Order of match finish: 5, 2, 4, 6, 3, 11. #43 Jose Hernandez (UNC) d. #66 Yannick Maden (Clemson), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (4)
2. #85 Brennan Boyajian (UNC) d. Gerardo Meza (Clemson), 6-2, 6-23. Ayrton Wibowo (Clemson) d. #101 Esben Hess-Olesen (UNC), 6-4, 6-4
4. Joey Burkhardt (UNC) d. Dominique Maden (Clemson), 6-4, 6-05. William Parker (UNC) d. Hunter Harrington (Clemson), 6-3, 6-3
6. Oystein Steiro (UNC) d. Zachary Rigsby (Clemson), 6-3, 7-5Records: North Carolina 9-5, Clemson 8-10
Players Mentioned
