Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
Order of Finish:
6,1,3,4,2
Players Mentioned

Brian Cernoch won the clinching singles match in the Tar Heel win.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Men's Tennis Downs No. 13 South Carolina, 4-2
February 13, 2022 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL— North Carolina handed 13th-ranked South Carolina its first loss of the season when the
Tar Heels defeated the Gamecocks, 4-2, at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.
Brian Cernoch won the clinching singles match, beating Toby Samuel 7-6 (10-8), 1-6 and 6-4 at No. 2 singles to claim the victory.
The Tar Heels improved to 5-1 this season while the Gamecocks dropped to 9-1. Carolina beat South Carolina for the third time in the last two years, having also defeated the 'Cocks in the 2021 ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Chapel Hill and in the regular season in Columbia, S.C.
"We're 5-1 now, so it's early and we've still got a lot to learn from today," Tar Heel head coach Sam Paul said. "South Carolina could easily end up being a top-10 team, so it's a good win for us."
UNC took an exciting doubles point to start the afternoon. Cernoch and Kiger won the clincher at No. 1 doubles, edging the No. 7-ranked team in the nation in Connor Thomson and Daniel Rodrigues, 7-5. The Tar Heel duo of Logan Zapp and Casey Kania also beat a ranked opponent, beating No. 55 Toby Beasley and Jake Beasley, 7-5.
Anuj Watane made the score 2-0 Tar Heels with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-3 win over Beasley at No. 6 singles. Rodrigues picked up a win at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-4, over Sigouin to cut the UNC lead to 2-1.
Kiger beat 97th-ranked Thomson 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 3 singles for a 3-1 Tar Heel lead. Moments after USC's Raphael Lambling beat Henry Lieberman at No. 4 singles to make it 3-2, Cernoch won the clincher at No. 2 singles.
After the match, Paul had praise for Kiger, Cernoch and his entire team.
"Mac's had a heck of a season for us," Paul said. "He's been playing really well, and for him to step up and get a singles win over Connor [Thomson], who's a good player, was big. And obviously Brian came up big with the singles win at the end. Their doubles win was a strong effort also. Just really proud of this team effort."
The Tar Heels will return to action on Thursday February 17 at home against NC State at 4 pm.
Tar Heels defeated the Gamecocks, 4-2, at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.
Brian Cernoch won the clinching singles match, beating Toby Samuel 7-6 (10-8), 1-6 and 6-4 at No. 2 singles to claim the victory.
The Tar Heels improved to 5-1 this season while the Gamecocks dropped to 9-1. Carolina beat South Carolina for the third time in the last two years, having also defeated the 'Cocks in the 2021 ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Chapel Hill and in the regular season in Columbia, S.C.
"We're 5-1 now, so it's early and we've still got a lot to learn from today," Tar Heel head coach Sam Paul said. "South Carolina could easily end up being a top-10 team, so it's a good win for us."
UNC took an exciting doubles point to start the afternoon. Cernoch and Kiger won the clincher at No. 1 doubles, edging the No. 7-ranked team in the nation in Connor Thomson and Daniel Rodrigues, 7-5. The Tar Heel duo of Logan Zapp and Casey Kania also beat a ranked opponent, beating No. 55 Toby Beasley and Jake Beasley, 7-5.
Anuj Watane made the score 2-0 Tar Heels with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-3 win over Beasley at No. 6 singles. Rodrigues picked up a win at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-4, over Sigouin to cut the UNC lead to 2-1.
Kiger beat 97th-ranked Thomson 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 3 singles for a 3-1 Tar Heel lead. Moments after USC's Raphael Lambling beat Henry Lieberman at No. 4 singles to make it 3-2, Cernoch won the clincher at No. 2 singles.
After the match, Paul had praise for Kiger, Cernoch and his entire team.
"Mac's had a heck of a season for us," Paul said. "He's been playing really well, and for him to step up and get a singles win over Connor [Thomson], who's a good player, was big. And obviously Brian came up big with the singles win at the end. Their doubles win was a strong effort also. Just really proud of this team effort."
The Tar Heels will return to action on Thursday February 17 at home against NC State at 4 pm.
Match clincher from Brian Cernoch 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 to secure a 4-2 Win over #13 South Carolina pic.twitter.com/1FYfw1EtSz
— UNC Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) February 13, 2022
UNC 3 USC 1 Kiger d. Thomson 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 pic.twitter.com/v4PJlrDySS
— UNC Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) February 13, 2022
Tennis Match Results
South Carolina vs North Carolina 02/13/2022 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
#23 North Carolina 4, #13 South Carolina 2
Singles competition
1. #14 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 6-3, 6-4
2. #87 Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Toby Samuel (SC) 7-6 (10-8), 1-6, 6-4
3. Mac Kiger (NC) def. #97 Connor Thomson (SC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
4. Raphael Lambling (SC) def. Henry Lieberman (NC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Logan Zapp (NC) vs. James Story (SC) 2-6, 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
6. Anuj Watane (NC) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Brian Cernoch/Mac Kiger (NC) def. #7 Connor Thomson/Daniel Rodrigues (SC) 7-5
2. Logan Zapp/Casey Kania (NC) def. #55 Toby Samuel/Jake Beasley (SC) 7-5
3. Benjamin Sigouin/Henry Lieberman (NC) vs. Raphael Lambling/James Story (SC) 5-6, unfinished
Match Notes:
South Carolina 9-1; National ranking #13
North Carolina 5-1; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,1,3,4,2) T-2:51 A-300
South Carolina vs North Carolina 02/13/2022 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
#23 North Carolina 4, #13 South Carolina 2
Singles competition
1. #14 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 6-3, 6-4
2. #87 Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Toby Samuel (SC) 7-6 (10-8), 1-6, 6-4
3. Mac Kiger (NC) def. #97 Connor Thomson (SC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
4. Raphael Lambling (SC) def. Henry Lieberman (NC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Logan Zapp (NC) vs. James Story (SC) 2-6, 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
6. Anuj Watane (NC) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Brian Cernoch/Mac Kiger (NC) def. #7 Connor Thomson/Daniel Rodrigues (SC) 7-5
2. Logan Zapp/Casey Kania (NC) def. #55 Toby Samuel/Jake Beasley (SC) 7-5
3. Benjamin Sigouin/Henry Lieberman (NC) vs. Raphael Lambling/James Story (SC) 5-6, unfinished
Match Notes:
South Carolina 9-1; National ranking #13
North Carolina 5-1; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,1,3,4,2) T-2:51 A-300
UNC Men's Soccer: Tar Heels Fight for 1-1 Draw vs SMU
Sunday, September 21
UNC Field Hockey: Offense Sends Heels Past Cal, 5-1
Saturday, September 20
Tar Heels in the Community pres. by NC Electric Co-ops - WLAX Hospital Visit - Sept. 19, 2025
Friday, September 19
Carolina Insider - Football at UCF Preview (Full Segment) - September 19, 2025
Friday, September 19