University of North Carolina Athletics
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Florida State
Tar Heels Fall At FSU In ACC Opener
March 12, 2016 | Men's Tennis
The North Carolina men's tennis team suffered its first loss of the spring on Friday evening, falling 4-3 at Florida State in the Tar Heels' Atlantic Coast Conference opener. UNC is now 15-1 overall, while FSU improved to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in ACC play.
Playing at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center in Tallahassee, Fla., the 51st-ranked Seminoles grabbed the doubles point to move into an early lead. FSU won 6-1 at the No. 2 spot, then Tar Heels Andrew Gores and Ronnie Schneider won 6-3 at No. 3 keep the point in play. At No. 1, the 26th-ranked team of Benjamin Lock and Marco Nunez beat UNC's Brett Clark and Robert Kelly, ranked No. 3 nationally, 6-4 to lock up the point.
In singles play, Tar Heel senior Brett Clark was the first to notch a win, beating FSU's Michael Rinaldi 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot to tie the score at 1-1.
UNC sophomore Robert Kelly also won in straight sets, beating FSU's Jose Garcia 7-5, 6-2 at No. 5 singles to make the score 2-1.
At No. 4, Tar Heel junior Jack Murray fell for the first time this season, 6-1 and 7-6(4) to Aziz Dougaz to tie the score at 2-2.
At No. 1, 30th-ranked Benjamin Lock beat UNC's Brayden Schnur, ranked No. 38, in three sets. After Lock took the first 7-5, Schnur rebounded to win 6-2 in the second. Lock then pulled out the third 6-3 to put FSU within a point of the win.
That point came at the No. 2 spot. Carolina's Ronnie Schneider won the first set 7-6(7), but then fell 6-4 in the second and 6-3 in the pivotal third.
After that, UNC freshman Blaine Boyden wrapped up a win at No. 6, coming back to win the second and third sets after falling in the first.
Next up for the top-ranked Tar Heels is another conference battle in the state of Florida, this one on Sunday at Miami. The match begins at noon and will air live on ESPN3.
March 10, 2016
Scott Speicher Tennis Center, Tallahassee, Fla.
No. 51 Florida State 4, No. 1 North Carolina 3
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,3,1)
1. #26 Benjamin Lock/Marco Nunez d. #3 Robert Kelly/Brett Clark (UNC), 6-4
2. Aziz Dougaz/Michael Rinaldi (FSU) d. Jack Murray/Brayden Schnur (UNC), 6-1
3. Andrew Gores/Ronnie Schneider (UNC) d. Jose Gracia/Terrance Whitehurst (FSU), 6-3
Singles
Order of match finish: (3,5,4,1,2,6)
1. #30 Benjamin Lock (FSU) d. #38 Brayden Schnur (UNC), 5-7, 6-2, 3-6
1. #97 Marco Nunez (FSU) d. #12 Ronnie Schneider (UNC), 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3
3. #29 Brett Clark (UNC) def. Michael Rinaldi (FSU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Aziz Dougaz (FSU) def. #74 Jack Murray (UNC), 6-1, 7-6(4)
4. #89 Robert Kelly (UNC) def. Jose Gracia (FSU), 7-5, 6-2
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. Terrance Whitehurst (FSU), 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-2
Records: North Carolina 15-1 (0-1 ACC), FSU 10-4 (2-1 ACC)
Players Mentioned
