Memphis Drops MTEN, 4-3, In NCAA First Round

Friday, May 3

Knoxville, Tenn.

10 AM

North Carolina

Memphis (First Round)

Will Peters

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

May 3, 2024 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Final Results (.pdf)

By: Matt Bowers

KNOXVILLE, TENN.— Memphis overcame an early deficit and came back to beat North Carolina, 4-3, on Friday in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Championship at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. The match was played indoors due to rain in the area.

Making its 10th consecutive NCAA appearance, Carolina won the doubles point and led, 3-1 after singles wins by Will Peters (at the No. 5 slot) and Karl Poling (No. 4).

The Tigers used consecutive wins at No. 6, No. 2 and No. 3 to clinch the team win and advance to Saturday's NCAA second round, where they will play the winner of Friday's match between No. 7 overall seed Tennessee and East Tennessee State.

How It Happened
Doubles
• The Tigers won the first doubles match at No. 1 when the #29-ranked duo of Pablo Alemany and Charlie Berry beat #42 Benjamin Kittay and Phillip Jordan.
• Poling and Peters then posted a strong win over Harry Rock and Conor Gannon at No. 3, 6-3.
• Patrick Schoen and Peter Murphy clinched the doubles point in a tiebreaker at No. 2. Schoen delivered a strong serve, forcing the Tigers into a return that went long, providing the final point in a 7-6 (7-4) win for the 1-0 team lead.

Singles
• Peters beat Maxime Dubouch at No. 5 by a score of 6-4, 6-3 to give UNC a 2-0 lead.
• Memphis' Alemany, ranked #58 nationally in singles, countered with a win over Kittay, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1 to make the score 2-1 in UNC's favor.
• Poling, ranked #89 this week by the ITA, followed with a three-set win over Rock, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, that made the score 3-1 Tar Heels.
• Memphis took wins at No. 6 over Anuj Watane, No. 2 over Jordan and No. 3 over Schoen to clinch the win.
• Schoen's drama-filled match at No. 3 singles against Paul Fanlo was the clincher and included multiple close calls and official's overrules at key moments. Fanlo won, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).

Tennis Match Results
Memphis vs North Carolina
5/3/2024 at Goodfriend Tennis Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
#31 Memphis 4, #27 North Carolina 3
Singles competition

1. #58 Pablo Alemany (MEM) def. Benjamin Kittay (NC) 6-3, 6-4
2. Conor Gannon (MEM) def. Phillip Jordan (NC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Pau Fanlo (MEM) def. Patrick Schoen (NC) 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
4. #89 Karl Poling (NC) def. Harry Rock (MEM) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
5. Will Peters (NC) def. Maxime Dubouch (MEM) 6-4, 6-3
6. Moritz Kudernatsch (MEM) def. Anuj Watane (NC) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. #29 Pablo Alemany/Charlie Barry (MEM) def. #42 Benjamin Kittay/Phillip Jordan (NC) 6-2
2. Peter Murphy/Patrick Schoen (NC) def. Harry Rock/Conor Gannon (MEM) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Will Peters/Karl Poling (NC) def. Pau Fanlo/Juan Zabala (MEM) 6-3

Match Notes:
Memphis 19-6; National ranking #31
North Carolina 14-10; National ranking #27
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,1,4,6,2,3)