University of North Carolina Athletics
Blumberg Finishes Freshman Year As NCAA Runner-up
Blumberg finished his freshman campaign with a 31-3 singles record. He's the first player in UNC history to reach the finals of the NCAA singles draw. No Tar Heel had ever advanced past the quarterfinals.
“What a historic run for William,” UNC coach Sam Paul said. “He's had a special year.
“Obviously he's one of the best players ever to wear Carolina blue, but in addition to his talent, his sportsmanship and class are just impeccable. He's an outstanding young man.”
Blumberg also reached the NCAA quarterfinals in doubles with junior Robert Kelly to earn All-America honors. The two played No. 1 doubles during the season and finished 23-8.
It was the fourth meeting of the season between Blumberg and Kwiatkowski, both of whom spent the majoring of the season playing in the No. 2 spot. The first, in Charlottesville, Va., in February was unfinished. Blumberg won the other two in straight sets, in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and the finals of the NCAA Tournament.
“Thai is obviously an awesome player,” Blumberg said. “No excuses today, he played better than me. He's a great player.”
“The match could have easily gone his way today,” Kwiatkowski said of Blumberg. “He is very well coached. They have a loving team and that's why they're so successful in the team tournament because they have such a powerful love for each other. That's credit to Sam Paul. For Will to be a freshman and lead his team like that and then come out here after the heartbreaking loss in the finals and crushing most of the guys he played is very impressive.”
It was the second NCAA title match up between UNC and Virginia this tournament. The two also met in the men's team final on May 23, with the Cavaliers winning 4-2 to take their third consecutive crown. It was UNC's first-ever appearance in the finals, and the Tar Heels finished the season 29-5 with a school-record number of wins and a final ranking of No. 3, the highest ever to end a season.
After back-to-back days of team matches in the semis and finals, Blumberg launched into singles competition the following day, May 24, and doubles started the day after that. At the end of his long run in Athens, he took an appreciative look back. “It's been an incredible atmosphere,” he said.
The match capped a stellar freshman season for Blumberg, who earned a long list of honors this spring after joining the team in January:
• NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
• ITA National Rookie of the Year
• ACC Freshman of the Year
• All-America in singles and doubles
• All-NCAA Tournament Team at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles