Benjamin Sigouin and Rinky Hijikata posted a doubles win over the Wolfpack.
Top Moments of 2019-20: Tar Heels Sweep #7 Wolfpack In Raleigh
June 3, 2020 | Men's Tennis
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.
No one knew it at the time, but one of the top highlights of the 2019-20 season for Carolina Tennis unexpectedly became the final match of the year for this special team.
On March 4, 2020, the second-ranked Tar Heels strode onto the home courts of seventh-ranked North Carolina State and dominated the Wolfpack in a 4-0 shutout win at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. It was Carolina's 12th win in 13 decisions to start the season and its second in two Atlantic Coast Conference decisions.
Less than a week later, the NBA had suspended its season, the ACC canceled its men's basketball tournament and the world had begun to change. Soon thereafter, Carolina's scheduled trip to Florida to play two more ranked foes in Florida State and Miami was off, along with the rest of the season.
In Raleigh that day, The Tar Heels won the doubles point to start the afternoon. William Blumberg and Brian Cernoch, ranked No. 13 in the nation, picked up a big, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles over No. 18 Yannai Barkai and Tadas Babelis. Carolina's fourth-ranked Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard fell to Robert Turzak and Alexis Galarneau by a 6-3 score at No. 2 doubles, but Benjamin Sigouin and Rinky Hijikata clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles over Collin Shick and Rafa Izquierdo Luque.
Carolina got singles wins from (in order of finish) Sigouin, Cernoch and Josh Peck. Sigouin, ranked No. 53 in the nation, beat No. 92 Babelis 6-3, 6-1 for the first singles point at No. 2 singles. Cernoch followed with a strong effort at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-3 over Martins Rocens. No. 85 Peck clinched the victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Izquierdo Luque at No. 4.
At the time, the win at NC State seemed like another step in a promising season the Tar Heels hoped would include historic success. Circumstances dictated otherwise, but the victory in Raleigh remains a highlight of a truly memorable Carolina tennis season.
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.
No one knew it at the time, but one of the top highlights of the 2019-20 season for Carolina Tennis unexpectedly became the final match of the year for this special team.
On March 4, 2020, the second-ranked Tar Heels strode onto the home courts of seventh-ranked North Carolina State and dominated the Wolfpack in a 4-0 shutout win at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. It was Carolina's 12th win in 13 decisions to start the season and its second in two Atlantic Coast Conference decisions.
Less than a week later, the NBA had suspended its season, the ACC canceled its men's basketball tournament and the world had begun to change. Soon thereafter, Carolina's scheduled trip to Florida to play two more ranked foes in Florida State and Miami was off, along with the rest of the season.
In Raleigh that day, The Tar Heels won the doubles point to start the afternoon. William Blumberg and Brian Cernoch, ranked No. 13 in the nation, picked up a big, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles over No. 18 Yannai Barkai and Tadas Babelis. Carolina's fourth-ranked Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard fell to Robert Turzak and Alexis Galarneau by a 6-3 score at No. 2 doubles, but Benjamin Sigouin and Rinky Hijikata clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles over Collin Shick and Rafa Izquierdo Luque.
Carolina got singles wins from (in order of finish) Sigouin, Cernoch and Josh Peck. Sigouin, ranked No. 53 in the nation, beat No. 92 Babelis 6-3, 6-1 for the first singles point at No. 2 singles. Cernoch followed with a strong effort at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-3 over Martins Rocens. No. 85 Peck clinched the victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Izquierdo Luque at No. 4.
At the time, the win at NC State seemed like another step in a promising season the Tar Heels hoped would include historic success. Circumstances dictated otherwise, but the victory in Raleigh remains a highlight of a truly memorable Carolina tennis season.
Tar Heels win!
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 5, 2020
No. 2 Carolina blanks No. 7 NC State, 4-0, in Raleigh.#GoHeels 🐏🎾 pic.twitter.com/eHK1dJo147
UNC 4 NCSU 0 Josh Peck clinches 6-2, 6-1 moments after Cernoch wins 6-4, 6-3 pic.twitter.com/dI5p4M2PCB
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 4, 2020
UNC 2 NCSU 0 Sigouin d. Babelis 6-3, 6-1 pic.twitter.com/Qy3Z0xFsoa
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 4, 2020
Soendergaard rallies from 0-3 to win the 1st, 6-4, giving UNC all 6 first sets. Set point was :58 in length pic.twitter.com/sZWk8DvBwz
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 4, 2020
Blumberg Cernoch 6-3 pic.twitter.com/q0g8OSEzrS
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) March 4, 2020
Tennis Match Results
North Carolina vs NC State Mar 4, 2020 at Raleigh, N.C. (J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
#2 North Carolina 4, #7 NC State 0
Singles competition
1. #20 Alexis Galarneau (ST) vs. #9 William Blumberg (NC) 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
2. #53 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. #92 Tadas Babelis (ST) 6-3, 6-1
3. Yannai Barkai (ST) vs. #67 Rinky Hijikata (NC) 4-6, 1-4, unfinished
4. #85 Josh Peck (NC) def. Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) 6-2, 6-1
5. Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Martins Rocens (ST) 6-4, 6-3
6. Robin Catry (ST) vs. Simon Soendergaard (NC) 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #13 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. #18 Yannai Barkai/Tadas Babelis (ST) 6-3
2. Robert Turzak/Alexis Galarneau (ST) def. #4 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC) 6-3
3. Benjamin Sigouin/Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. Collin Shick/Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) 6-3
Match Notes:
North Carolina 12-1; National ranking #2
NC State 10-4; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,5,4)
T-1:51 A-356
North Carolina vs NC State Mar 4, 2020 at Raleigh, N.C. (J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
#2 North Carolina 4, #7 NC State 0
Singles competition
1. #20 Alexis Galarneau (ST) vs. #9 William Blumberg (NC) 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
2. #53 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. #92 Tadas Babelis (ST) 6-3, 6-1
3. Yannai Barkai (ST) vs. #67 Rinky Hijikata (NC) 4-6, 1-4, unfinished
4. #85 Josh Peck (NC) def. Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) 6-2, 6-1
5. Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Martins Rocens (ST) 6-4, 6-3
6. Robin Catry (ST) vs. Simon Soendergaard (NC) 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #13 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. #18 Yannai Barkai/Tadas Babelis (ST) 6-3
2. Robert Turzak/Alexis Galarneau (ST) def. #4 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC) 6-3
3. Benjamin Sigouin/Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. Collin Shick/Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) 6-3
Match Notes:
North Carolina 12-1; National ranking #2
NC State 10-4; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,5,4)
T-1:51 A-356
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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