Tar Heels Advance To Face Michigan Sunday

Saturday, January 27

Chapel Hill

12:30 PM

North Carolina

UNC vs. Drake

William Blumberg
University of North Carolina Men's Tennis v Campbell
Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center
Chapel Hill, NC
Monday, January 22, 2018

William Blumberg earned a win at No. 1 singles.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

January 27, 2018 | Men's Tennis

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina men's tennis team advanced in ITA Kick-Off Weekend play with a 4-0 win over visiting Drake Saturday at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The Tar Heel win sets up a meeting with No. 17 Michigan on Sunday for a spot in the ITA National Team Indoors, coming up Feb. 16-19 in Seattle. The Wolverines advanced with a 4-0 win over No. 20 South Carolina in Saturday's early match.

"Drake has a good coach and a good team, so we're pleased to advance," UNC coach Sam Paul said. "The doubles point was key – I thought it gave us some momentum going into singles. We look forward to playing Michigan tomorrow."

Sunday's play starts at 9:30 a.m. with Drake and South Carolina meeting in the consolation match. UNC and UM face off at 1 p.m.

There is no charge for admission to Cone-Kenfield, and there are plenty of perks planned for fans. There will be free Jersey Mike's sandwiches during the UNC match and Rameses will make an appearance. Additionally, Carolina fans can enter a raffle for a pair of tickets to the UNC-Duke men's basketball game on Feb. 8 in Chapel Hill.

Worth the Watch...Simon Soendergaard w/the "tweener" gives UNC six 1st sets #ITAKickOff pic.twitter.com/aS2OTpTcD8
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) January 27, 2018

Against the Bulldogs Saturday afternoon, UNC (4-0) claimed the doubles point for the fourth time in four matches this season. At No. 2, sophomore Josh Peck and freshman Benjamin Sigouin won 6-4, then sophomore Simon Soendergaard and freshman Mac Kiger pulled out a 7-5 win at the No. 3 spot to earn the point. UNC's No. 1 team of senior Robert Kelly and sophomore William Blumberg, ranked third in the nation, led 6- 5 when play was suspended.

Kelly wrapped up first in singles play, racing to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Drake's Barry Thorold at No. 3. Junior Blaine Boyden, playing at No. 6 singles, beat Drake's Finley Hall 6-2, 6-2 to make it 3-0 Tar Heels.

Blumberg then clinched the victory, coming to the net for the final point in a 6-2, 6-3 win.

Blumberg with AMAZING F-H, drop volley, ace takes 1st set, 6-3 #ITAKickOff pic.twitter.com/IEz4cUzQ0w
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) January 27, 2018

Sigouin at No. 1, Soendergaard at No. 4 and Peck at No. 5 all won their first sets and were in the second when play was suspended.

No. 3 North Carolina 4, Drake 0
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,3)
1. #3 Blumberg/Kelly (UNC) vs. Gillespie/Thorold (DU), 6-5
2. Peck/Sigouin (UNC) d. Clark/Wood (DU), 6-4
3. Soendergaard/Kiger (UNC) d. Hands/Hall (DU), 7-5

Singles
Order of match finish: (3,6,1)
1. #2 William Blumberg (UNC) d. Vinny Gillespie (DU), 6-3, 6-3
2. Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) v. Tom Hands (DU), 7-5, 2-3, UF
3. #94 Robert Kelly (UNC) d. Barry Thorold (DU), 6-2, 6-0
4. #70 Simon Soendergaard (UNC) d. #124 Ben Clark, 6-3, 2-2 UF
5. #79 Joshua Peck (UNC) v. Ben Wood (DU), 6-4, 4-3 UF
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) d. Finley Hall (DU), 6-2, 6-2

Records: UNC 4-0, Drake 3-1
Time: 1:42

No. 17 Michigan 4, No. 20 South Carolina 0
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,3)
1. #19 Knight/Hua (UM) v. Cerundolo/Friedrich (USC). 5-4 UF
2. Johnston/Schalet (UM) d. Mayronne/Jubb (USC), 6-0
3. M. Siimar/K. Siimar (UM) d. O'Keefe/Dennis (USC), 6-4

Singles
Order of match finish: (6,4,3)
1. #9 Alex Knight v. #57 Francisco Cerundolo (USC), 7-5, 3-5, UF
2. #20 Runhao Hua (UM) d. #74 Gabriel Friedrich (USC), 6-2, 6-4
3. Mattias Siimar (UM) v. Paul Jubb, 4-6, 7-5, UF
4. Myles Schalet (UM) d. #63 Yancy Dennis (USC), 7-5, 6-4
5. Carter Lin (UM) v. #117 Thomas Mayronne (USC), 6-2, 5-5, UF
6. Davis Crocker (UM) d. Harrison O'Keefe (USC), 6-3, 6-1

Records: UM 3-0, South Carolina 4-1