University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, March 26
Blacksburg, VA
2 PM
North Carolina
7
at
0
Virginia Tech
William Blumberg and Brian Cernoch won their doubles match at No. 1.
No. 1 Men's Tennis Blanks No. 38 Hokies, 7-0
March 26, 2021 | Men's Tennis
BLACKSBURG, VA.—Brian Cernoch won the clinching singles match as top-ranked North Carolina blanked No. 38 Virginia Tech, 7-0, on Friday afternoon at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 1 in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, improved to 13-0 in 2021, 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Carolina has won 15 consecutive matches, dating to last season. The Hokies fell to 9-5 this spring.
Carolina took a hard-fought doubles point to start the afternoon. The nationally fifth-ranked duo of William Blumberg and Brian Cernoch took the first decision of the day, 6-4, over No. 36 Jordan Chrysostom and Ryan Fishback, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles. Then, Mitch Harper and Alex Ribeiro defeated UNC's No. 75 Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard, 6-4, to even things at 1-1 in doubles matches.
Rinky Hijikata and Benjaimin captured the doubles point at No. 3, rallying to a 7-5 win over Ryan Kros and Michael Shepeard.
With a 1-0 lead, Blumberg kicked off singles play with a straight-set, 6-4, 6-4 win over Harper at No. 1. Mac Kiger followed with a straight-set win of his own, 6-4, 6-4, over Alvaro Ariza.
Cernoch clinched the team victory with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Hugo Maia at No. 4 singles.
The Tar Heels wrapped up the afternoon with a trio of come-from-behind wins by Hijikata (6-7, 6-1, 6-4 over No. 96 Matthis Ross at No. 2 singles), Sigouin (4-6, 7-6, 1-0 at No. 3) and Soendergaard (4-6, 6-2, 7-5 at No. 5).
The Tar Heels will return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. at sixth-ranked Virginia.
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 1 in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, improved to 13-0 in 2021, 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Carolina has won 15 consecutive matches, dating to last season. The Hokies fell to 9-5 this spring.
Carolina took a hard-fought doubles point to start the afternoon. The nationally fifth-ranked duo of William Blumberg and Brian Cernoch took the first decision of the day, 6-4, over No. 36 Jordan Chrysostom and Ryan Fishback, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles. Then, Mitch Harper and Alex Ribeiro defeated UNC's No. 75 Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard, 6-4, to even things at 1-1 in doubles matches.
Rinky Hijikata and Benjaimin captured the doubles point at No. 3, rallying to a 7-5 win over Ryan Kros and Michael Shepeard.
With a 1-0 lead, Blumberg kicked off singles play with a straight-set, 6-4, 6-4 win over Harper at No. 1. Mac Kiger followed with a straight-set win of his own, 6-4, 6-4, over Alvaro Ariza.
Cernoch clinched the team victory with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Hugo Maia at No. 4 singles.
The Tar Heels wrapped up the afternoon with a trio of come-from-behind wins by Hijikata (6-7, 6-1, 6-4 over No. 96 Matthis Ross at No. 2 singles), Sigouin (4-6, 7-6, 1-0 at No. 3) and Soendergaard (4-6, 6-2, 7-5 at No. 5).
The Tar Heels will return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. at sixth-ranked Virginia.
Tennis Match Results
North Carolina vs Virginia Tech Hokies
03/26/2021 at Blacksburg, Va. (Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center)
#1 North Carolina 7, #38 Virginia Tech Hokies 0
Singles competition
1. #53 William Blumberg (NC) def. Mitch Harper (VT) 6-4, 6-4
2. #24 Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. #96 Matthis Ross (VT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4
3. #58 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (10-8)
4. #41 Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Hugo Maia (VT) 6-4, 7-6
5. #74 Simon Soendergaard (NC) def. Ryan Fishback (VT) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Mac Kiger (NC) def. Alvaro Ariza (VT) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #5 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. #36 Jordan Chrysostom/Ryan Fishback (VT) 6-4
2. Mitch Harper/Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. #75 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC) 6-4
3. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Ryan Kros/Michael Shepheard (VT) 7-5
Match Notes:
North Carolina 13-0; National ranking #1
Virginia Tech Hokies 9-5; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,6,4,2,3,5)
North Carolina vs Virginia Tech Hokies
03/26/2021 at Blacksburg, Va. (Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center)
#1 North Carolina 7, #38 Virginia Tech Hokies 0
Singles competition
1. #53 William Blumberg (NC) def. Mitch Harper (VT) 6-4, 6-4
2. #24 Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. #96 Matthis Ross (VT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4
3. #58 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (10-8)
4. #41 Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Hugo Maia (VT) 6-4, 7-6
5. #74 Simon Soendergaard (NC) def. Ryan Fishback (VT) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Mac Kiger (NC) def. Alvaro Ariza (VT) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #5 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. #36 Jordan Chrysostom/Ryan Fishback (VT) 6-4
2. Mitch Harper/Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. #75 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC) 6-4
3. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Ryan Kros/Michael Shepheard (VT) 7-5
Match Notes:
North Carolina 13-0; National ranking #1
Virginia Tech Hokies 9-5; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,6,4,2,3,5)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Mitch Harper / 0 [VT]
44
#2 Singles Match
123
666
Matthis Ross / 0 (96/-) [VT]
714
#3 Singles Match
123
471
Carlo Donato / 0 [VT]
660
#4 Singles Match
12
67
Hugo Maia / 0 [VT]
46
#5 Singles Match
123
467
Ryan Fishback / 0 [VT]
625
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Alvaro Ariza / 0 [VT]
44
Order of Finish:
1,6,4,2,3,5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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