University of North Carolina Athletics
Rinky Hijikata clinched the win over Florida.
Top Moments of 2019-20: Tar Heels Blank Gators In ITA Indoor Quarterfinal
June 19, 2020 | Men's Tennis
More Top Moments of 2019-20:
Soendergaard & Kiger Reach Fall ITA Doubles Semifinal
Tar Heels Sweep #7 Wolfpack On The Road
Tar Heels Shutout #11 TCU
Heels Blank Gators in ITA Indoor Quarterfinals
When Carolina Athletics canceled all spring competitions on March 17, 2020, in accordance with the Atlantic Coast Conference's decision due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its men's tennis team was in the middle of possibly the best season in program history. The Tar Heels were ranked No. 2 in the ITA national rankings with a 12-1 record and sat atop the ACC standings. The team reached the finals of the ITA Indoor National Championships in Madison, Wisc., in February, beating the No. 1 team in the nation along the way.
Please continue to visit GoHeels.com as we look back on the impressive achievements of 27th-year head coach Sam Paul and his team in 2019-20.
Fourth-seeded North Carolina advanced to the semifinal round of the ITA National Indoor Championships on February 15, 2020, sweeping fifth-seeded Florida, 4-0, at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wisc.
Carolina then advanced to the semifinal round, where it defeated top-seeded Ohio State. The Tar Heels have reached the semifinals at ITA Indoors in four of the last five years.
Freshman Rinky Hijikata clinched the victory with a 6-4. 6-4 win at No. 3 singles over Duarte Vale. William Blumberg also played very well and won at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3 over Oliver Crawford, while Brian Cernoch beat Johannes Ingildsen 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.
The Tar Heels grabbed the doubles point early, when Blumberg and Cernoch won 6-4 at No. 1 over Oliver Crawford and Sam Riffice and Hijikata and Benjamin Sigouin cruised to a 6-0 win at No. 3 singles.
ITA Indoor National Championships Quarterfinal
2/15/2020 at Madison, Wisc.
#4 North Carolina 4, #5 Florida 0
Doubles competition
1. William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Oliver Crawford/Sam Riffice (UF), 6-4
2. #3 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC), vs. Johannes Ingildsen/W Grant (UF), 5-5 (unfinished)
3. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Duarte Vale/J Goodger (UF), 6-0
Singles competition
1. William Blumberg (NC) def. Oliver Crawford (UF), 6-2, 6-3
2. #60 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) vs. Sam Riffice (UF), 3-6, 6-3, 1-1 (0-30) unfinished
3. Rinky Hijikata (NC) vs. Duarte Vale (UF) 6-4, 6-4
4. Josh Peck (NC)) vs. Andy Andrade (UF) 6-3, 4-5 (40-15) unfinished
5. Brian Cernoch (NC) def.Johannes Ingildsen (UF) 6-1, 6-1
6. Simon Soendergaard (NC) vs. Blaise Bicknell (UF) 6-3, 5-4 (0-15) unfinished
Soendergaard & Kiger Reach Fall ITA Doubles Semifinal
Tar Heels Sweep #7 Wolfpack On The Road
Tar Heels Shutout #11 TCU
Heels Blank Gators in ITA Indoor Quarterfinals
When Carolina Athletics canceled all spring competitions on March 17, 2020, in accordance with the Atlantic Coast Conference's decision due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its men's tennis team was in the middle of possibly the best season in program history. The Tar Heels were ranked No. 2 in the ITA national rankings with a 12-1 record and sat atop the ACC standings. The team reached the finals of the ITA Indoor National Championships in Madison, Wisc., in February, beating the No. 1 team in the nation along the way.
Please continue to visit GoHeels.com as we look back on the impressive achievements of 27th-year head coach Sam Paul and his team in 2019-20.
Fourth-seeded North Carolina advanced to the semifinal round of the ITA National Indoor Championships on February 15, 2020, sweeping fifth-seeded Florida, 4-0, at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wisc.
Carolina then advanced to the semifinal round, where it defeated top-seeded Ohio State. The Tar Heels have reached the semifinals at ITA Indoors in four of the last five years.
Freshman Rinky Hijikata clinched the victory with a 6-4. 6-4 win at No. 3 singles over Duarte Vale. William Blumberg also played very well and won at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3 over Oliver Crawford, while Brian Cernoch beat Johannes Ingildsen 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.
The Tar Heels grabbed the doubles point early, when Blumberg and Cernoch won 6-4 at No. 1 over Oliver Crawford and Sam Riffice and Hijikata and Benjamin Sigouin cruised to a 6-0 win at No. 3 singles.
William Blumberg discusses closing out his match vs #23 Oliver Crawford; Brian Cernoch speaks to being first off in singles for the second straight day: pic.twitter.com/zvqOc0z4Cp
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) February 16, 2020
Final UNC 4 Florida 0 Hijikata d. Vale 6-4, 6-4 to clinch berth in #ITAIndoors SF's 4:30 pm Sunday pic.twitter.com/xecLUeIzN3
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) February 15, 2020
UNC 3 Florida 0 Blumberg d. Crawford 6-2' 6-3; a scintillating performance #ITAIndoors pic.twitter.com/yIw0XB505c
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) February 15, 2020
North Carolina vs FloridaUNC 2 Florida 0 Cernoch d. Ingildsen 6-1, 6-1 pic.twitter.com/BJaes0eljV
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) February 15, 2020
ITA Indoor National Championships Quarterfinal
2/15/2020 at Madison, Wisc.
#4 North Carolina 4, #5 Florida 0
Doubles competition
1. William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Oliver Crawford/Sam Riffice (UF), 6-4
2. #3 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC), vs. Johannes Ingildsen/W Grant (UF), 5-5 (unfinished)
3. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Duarte Vale/J Goodger (UF), 6-0
Singles competition
1. William Blumberg (NC) def. Oliver Crawford (UF), 6-2, 6-3
2. #60 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) vs. Sam Riffice (UF), 3-6, 6-3, 1-1 (0-30) unfinished
3. Rinky Hijikata (NC) vs. Duarte Vale (UF) 6-4, 6-4
4. Josh Peck (NC)) vs. Andy Andrade (UF) 6-3, 4-5 (40-15) unfinished
5. Brian Cernoch (NC) def.Johannes Ingildsen (UF) 6-1, 6-1
6. Simon Soendergaard (NC) vs. Blaise Bicknell (UF) 6-3, 5-4 (0-15) unfinished
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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