University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, May 18
Winston-Salem, N.C.
9:00 AM
North Carolina
2
vs
4
Southern California (NCAA Round of 16)
Freshman Mac Kiger won at No. 6 singles but the Tar Heels fell 4-2.
Tar Heels Fall To Trojans In Round of 16
May 18, 2018 | Men's Tennis
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 6 North Carolina fell to No. 10 Southern Cal by a 4-2 margin in the third round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship on Friday morning at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
Sixth-ranked North Carolina finishes the season 24-6. Southern California improves to 21-8 on the year.
The Tar Heels lost a tight doubles point as USC took courts two and three by scores of 6-4 and 7-6 (3), respectively. The doubles trio of William Blumberg and Robert Kelly did not finish but led 6-6 (3-1) on Court 1 when play was suspended.
In singles, the Tar Heels got out to a hot start led by third-ranked Blumberg on Court 1. The Tar Heels won the first set on courts one, three, five and six.
Blumberg was the first to finish as he handled No. 11 Brandon Holt in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. Blumberg's win tied the match at 1-1.
UNC freshman Mac Kiger was next to come off as he defeated his opponent, No. 123 Riley Smith, on Court 6 by a score of 6-4, 6-4, giving Carolina the 2-1 advantage.
USC responded with three wins to close out the match. On Court 5, Thibault Forget eventually came back to clinch the match after falling in the first set to UNC junior Blaine Boyden. With the third set tied 4-4 Forget broke and held to win the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Three Tar Heels will move on tp play in the NCAA singles and doubles draw, which begins on May 23 after the conclusion of te team tournament. Blumberg and Kelly are the No. 2 overall seed in doubles. Blumberg is also seeded second in singles, and freshman Benjamin Sigouin will join him in the field.
No. 10 USC 4, No. 6 UNC 2
Doubles
1. #2 William Blumberg/Robert Kelly (UNC) vs. #10 Brandon Holt/Riley Smith (USC) 6-6 (3-1), unf.
2. #9 Jack Jaede/Laurens Verboven (USC) def. Blaine Boyden/Benjamin Slgouin (UNC) 6-4
3. Daniel Cukierman/Tanner Smith (USC def. Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (UNC) 7-6 (3)
Singles
1. #3 William Blumberg (UNC) def. #11 Brandon Holt (USC) 6-3, 6-0
2. #74 Daniel Cukierman (USC) def. #32 Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) 7-5, 7-6(2)
3. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) vs. Jack Jaede (USC) 7-6(5), 2-6, 0-2, unf.
4. Laurens Verboven (USC) def. #90 Robert Kelly (UNC) 7-5, 6-4
5. Thibault Forget (USC) def. Blaine Boyden (UNC) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
6. Mac Kiger (UNC def. #123 Riley Smith (USC) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles: (2,3) Singles: (1,6,4,2,5)
Sixth-ranked North Carolina finishes the season 24-6. Southern California improves to 21-8 on the year.
The Tar Heels lost a tight doubles point as USC took courts two and three by scores of 6-4 and 7-6 (3), respectively. The doubles trio of William Blumberg and Robert Kelly did not finish but led 6-6 (3-1) on Court 1 when play was suspended.
In singles, the Tar Heels got out to a hot start led by third-ranked Blumberg on Court 1. The Tar Heels won the first set on courts one, three, five and six.
Blumberg was the first to finish as he handled No. 11 Brandon Holt in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. Blumberg's win tied the match at 1-1.
UNC freshman Mac Kiger was next to come off as he defeated his opponent, No. 123 Riley Smith, on Court 6 by a score of 6-4, 6-4, giving Carolina the 2-1 advantage.
USC responded with three wins to close out the match. On Court 5, Thibault Forget eventually came back to clinch the match after falling in the first set to UNC junior Blaine Boyden. With the third set tied 4-4 Forget broke and held to win the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Three Tar Heels will move on tp play in the NCAA singles and doubles draw, which begins on May 23 after the conclusion of te team tournament. Blumberg and Kelly are the No. 2 overall seed in doubles. Blumberg is also seeded second in singles, and freshman Benjamin Sigouin will join him in the field.
No. 10 USC 4, No. 6 UNC 2
Doubles
1. #2 William Blumberg/Robert Kelly (UNC) vs. #10 Brandon Holt/Riley Smith (USC) 6-6 (3-1), unf.
2. #9 Jack Jaede/Laurens Verboven (USC) def. Blaine Boyden/Benjamin Slgouin (UNC) 6-4
3. Daniel Cukierman/Tanner Smith (USC def. Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (UNC) 7-6 (3)
Singles
1. #3 William Blumberg (UNC) def. #11 Brandon Holt (USC) 6-3, 6-0
2. #74 Daniel Cukierman (USC) def. #32 Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) 7-5, 7-6(2)
3. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) vs. Jack Jaede (USC) 7-6(5), 2-6, 0-2, unf.
4. Laurens Verboven (USC) def. #90 Robert Kelly (UNC) 7-5, 6-4
5. Thibault Forget (USC) def. Blaine Boyden (UNC) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
6. Mac Kiger (UNC def. #123 Riley Smith (USC) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles: (2,3) Singles: (1,6,4,2,5)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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