University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, January 25
Chapel Hill
1:00 PM
North Carolina
4
vs
0
Utah
WIlliam Blumberg and the Tar Heels advanced with a 4-0 win over Utah and face Duke Saturday at 6:30.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Tar Heels Advance To Saturday Matchup With Duke
January 25, 2019 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina men's tennis team advanced in ITA Kickoff Weekend play Friday with a 4-0 win over No. 46 Utah at Cone-Kenfield Center. The third-ranked Tar Heels did not drop a set and improved their record to 3-0.
With the win, UNC will face Duke in the weekend's championship game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Cone-Kenfield. There is no charge for admission and the first 100 Tar Heel fans get free "Rock the Cone" t-shirts.
"Utah has got a good team and we're happy to be moving forward," UNC head coach Sam Paul said. "We'll have a big challenge tomorrow in playing Duke. We hope we'll have a great Tar Heel crowd come out and support our team and watch some outstanding college tennis."
In doubles play against the Utes, the duo of Benjamin Sigouin and Brian Cernoch won 6-3 on Court 2, and William Blumberg and Blaine Boyden clinched the point on Court 1, 6-4.
In singles, Boyden was the first one off the court, winning 6-2, 6-4 on Court 4. Shortly after, junior Simon Soendergaard wrapped up a win of his own on Court 3, 6-3, 6-4. Sigouin sealed the victory with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 1.
Earlier on Friday, No. 30 Duke beat No. 43 Middle Tennessee State, 4-0, to make it to the championship match. MTSU will play Utah in the consolation match at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Following that, UNC and Duke will face off for a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships Feb. 15-18 in Chicago.
No. 6 North Carolina 4, Utah 0
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,1)
1. Blumberg/Boyden (UNC) d. Cory/Benkaim (UTAH) 6-4
2. Cernoch/Sigouin (UNC) d. Micevski/Shainyal (UTAH) 6-3
3. Soendergaard/Kiger (UNC) v. Little/Woolley (UTAH) 5-6, UF
Singles
Order of match finish: (4,5,1)
1. Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) d. Dan Little (UTAH) 6-4, 7-5
2. Brian Cernoch (UNC) v. David Micevski (UTAH) 7-5, 5-4 UF
3. Josh Peck (UNC) v. Slava Shainyan (UTAH) 6-4, 5-3 UF
4. Blaine Boyden (UNC) d. Randy Cory (UTAH), 6-2, 6-4
5. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) d. Russell Benkaim (UTAH) 6-3, 6-4
6. Mac Kiger (UNC) v. Joe Woolley (UTAH) 6-2, 6-3, 4-2 UF
Records: UNC 3-0, Utah 2-2
With the win, UNC will face Duke in the weekend's championship game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Cone-Kenfield. There is no charge for admission and the first 100 Tar Heel fans get free "Rock the Cone" t-shirts.
"Utah has got a good team and we're happy to be moving forward," UNC head coach Sam Paul said. "We'll have a big challenge tomorrow in playing Duke. We hope we'll have a great Tar Heel crowd come out and support our team and watch some outstanding college tennis."
In doubles play against the Utes, the duo of Benjamin Sigouin and Brian Cernoch won 6-3 on Court 2, and William Blumberg and Blaine Boyden clinched the point on Court 1, 6-4.
5-4 UNC, 6-3, 5-5 pic.twitter.com/FRWV05JkyC
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) January 25, 2019
In singles, Boyden was the first one off the court, winning 6-2, 6-4 on Court 4. Shortly after, junior Simon Soendergaard wrapped up a win of his own on Court 3, 6-3, 6-4. Sigouin sealed the victory with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 1.
FINAL UNC 4 Utah 0 Ben Sigouin clinches 6-4, 7-5 #ITAKickoff pic.twitter.com/TKlmx02c1u
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) January 25, 2019
Earlier on Friday, No. 30 Duke beat No. 43 Middle Tennessee State, 4-0, to make it to the championship match. MTSU will play Utah in the consolation match at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Following that, UNC and Duke will face off for a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships Feb. 15-18 in Chicago.
No. 6 North Carolina 4, Utah 0
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,1)
1. Blumberg/Boyden (UNC) d. Cory/Benkaim (UTAH) 6-4
2. Cernoch/Sigouin (UNC) d. Micevski/Shainyal (UTAH) 6-3
3. Soendergaard/Kiger (UNC) v. Little/Woolley (UTAH) 5-6, UF
Singles
Order of match finish: (4,5,1)
1. Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) d. Dan Little (UTAH) 6-4, 7-5
2. Brian Cernoch (UNC) v. David Micevski (UTAH) 7-5, 5-4 UF
3. Josh Peck (UNC) v. Slava Shainyan (UTAH) 6-4, 5-3 UF
4. Blaine Boyden (UNC) d. Randy Cory (UTAH), 6-2, 6-4
5. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) d. Russell Benkaim (UTAH) 6-3, 6-4
6. Mac Kiger (UNC) v. Joe Woolley (UTAH) 6-2, 6-3, 4-2 UF
Records: UNC 3-0, Utah 2-2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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