Tar Heels Start ACC Play With 6-1 Win Over Hokies

Sunday, March 1

Chapel Hill

1 PM

North Carolina

Virginia Tech

Brian Cernoch and William Blumberg won in doubles and both won their singles matches Sunday.

Brian Cernoch and William Blumberg won at No. 1 doubles and each won their singles matches.

March 1, 2020 | Men's Tennis

CHAPEL HILL—Second-ranked North Carolina beat Virginia Tech, 6-1, in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams on a sunny, early spring Sunday afternoon.

The Tar Heels started the day by winning the doubles point, then won five of six singles matches at the outdoor courts at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center to give head coach Sam Paul his 501st career win.

With the win, Carolina improved to 11-1 this season, 1-0 in ACC action. The Hokies fell to 5-4, 0-1.

Brian Cernoch won the deciding match at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-3 over Matthis Ross to clinch the win for the Tar Heels.

Carolina also picked up singles wins from William Blumberg (6-0, 6-0 at No. 1), Rinky Hijikata (7-6, 6-2 at No. 3), Josh Peck (6-2, 6-3 at No. 4) and Simon Soendergaard (6-4, 7-6 at No. 6).

Blumberg and Cernoch won, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles and Soendergaard and Mac Kiger won, 6-2, at No. 2 doubles. The Tar Heels won the doubles point for the 24th time in the last 25 matches, dating back to the Miami match on March 24, 2019.

The Tar Heels will return to action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at top-10 foe North Carolina State.

Final UNC 6 Va Tech 1 Soendergaard finishes it, 6-4, 7-6(2) pic.twitter.com/tXpK6Bffae
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 1, 2020

UNC 4 VT 1 Cernoch 6-4, 6-3 pic.twitter.com/1XDndxleKN
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 1, 2020

UNC 3 VT 0 Peck 6-2, 6-3; Watch the touch on match pt! pic.twitter.com/rObbfEZpoF
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 1, 2020

Virginia Tech vs North Carolina Mar 01, 2020 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
#2 North Carolina 6, Virginia Tech 1

Singles competition
1. William Blumberg (NC) def. Henrik Korsgaard (VT) 6-0, 6-0
2. Mitch Harper (VT) def. Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. Alex Ribeiro (VT) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
4. Josh Peck (NC) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 6-2, 6-3
5. Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Matthis Ross (VT) 6-4, 6-3
6. Simon Soendergaard (NC) def. Chase Bernstine (VT) 6-4 (7-2), 7-6

Doubles competition
1. #16 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Henrik Korsgaard/Ryan Kros (VT) 6-3
2. #4 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC) def. Alex Ribeiro/Carlo Donato (VT) 6-2
3. Benjamin Sigouin/Rinky Hijikata (NC) vs. Mitch Harper/Matthis Ross (VT) 5-3, unfinished

Match Notes:
Virginia Tech 5-4, 0-1 ACC
North Carolina 11-1,1-0 ACC; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,4,2,5,3,6)
T-2:11 A-205