University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Rebecca Lawson
Tar Heels No. 4 In Oracle/ITA Preseason Rankings
January 8, 2020 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL—The University of North Carolina men's tennis team will start the spring season ranked fourth in the 2020 preseason Oracle/ITA Division I Men's Rankings, released on Wednesday afternoon.
Florida took the top spot, followed by No. 2 Texas, No. 3 USC and No. 4 UNC. Baylor was fifth, followed in the top 10 by Ohio State, Wake Forest, TCU, Texas A&M and Virginia.
The Tar Heels, who have advanced to the NCAA Final Four in two of the last three seasons, return seven lettermen from last year's NCAA semifinalist squad. All-Americas William Blumberg and Benjamin Sigouin are back, as are returning stalwarts Brian Cernoch, Josh Peck, Simon Soendergaard, Mac Kiger and Ladd Harrison.
Head coach Sam Paul also welcomes to the team a talented class of three freshmen that includes Mark Dillon, Rinky Hijikata and Anuj Watane.
UNC's 2020 slate includes at least six matches against teams ranked in the preseason top 25, including No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 8 TCU, No. 10 Virginia, No. 13 Illinois, No. 16 South Carolina and No. 23 North Carolina State.
"We feel like this schedule will be a tremendous challenge for us and we're really excited about it," says Paul.
Carolina players posted a strong fall season in 2019, with the duo of Kiger and Soendergard winning the ITA regional doubles championship and advancing to the semifinals of the ITA Fall Nationals. Kiger and Soendergaard enter the 2020 spring season ranked No. 7 as a team, and Peck earned the No. 82 spot in the singles rankings.
"The guys have worked hard and had a great fall," Paul says. "We're excited about 2020."
The 2020 schedule begins with a trip to the Crimson Tide Shootout this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and kicks off at home at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Jan. 17-18 against North Carolina Central and Wofford.
Florida took the top spot, followed by No. 2 Texas, No. 3 USC and No. 4 UNC. Baylor was fifth, followed in the top 10 by Ohio State, Wake Forest, TCU, Texas A&M and Virginia.
The Tar Heels, who have advanced to the NCAA Final Four in two of the last three seasons, return seven lettermen from last year's NCAA semifinalist squad. All-Americas William Blumberg and Benjamin Sigouin are back, as are returning stalwarts Brian Cernoch, Josh Peck, Simon Soendergaard, Mac Kiger and Ladd Harrison.
Head coach Sam Paul also welcomes to the team a talented class of three freshmen that includes Mark Dillon, Rinky Hijikata and Anuj Watane.
UNC's 2020 slate includes at least six matches against teams ranked in the preseason top 25, including No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 8 TCU, No. 10 Virginia, No. 13 Illinois, No. 16 South Carolina and No. 23 North Carolina State.
"We feel like this schedule will be a tremendous challenge for us and we're really excited about it," says Paul.
Carolina players posted a strong fall season in 2019, with the duo of Kiger and Soendergard winning the ITA regional doubles championship and advancing to the semifinals of the ITA Fall Nationals. Kiger and Soendergaard enter the 2020 spring season ranked No. 7 as a team, and Peck earned the No. 82 spot in the singles rankings.
"The guys have worked hard and had a great fall," Paul says. "We're excited about 2020."
The 2020 schedule begins with a trip to the Crimson Tide Shootout this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and kicks off at home at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Jan. 17-18 against North Carolina Central and Wofford.
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