University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Eastern Kentucky (NCAA Tournament First Round)
Tar Heel Men's Tennis Opens Strong In NCAA Tournament
May 13, 2011 | Men's Tennis
May 13, 2011
URBANA, ILL. - The 18th-ranked University of North Carolina men's tennis team was on and off the court within two Friday afternoon as it eased to a 4-0 victory over Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament first round at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Center.
This marks the sixth straight year the Tar Heels have won their NCAA first round match and the seventh time they've done so in the last eight years. Carolina advances to the second round Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT against either Illinois or Drake. Those two teams played the second first round match at the University of Illinois regional site on Friday.
Carolina improved to 16-7 on the season and the Tar Heels have now won 13 of their past 16 matches. EKU saw an incredibly successful season end at 21-5.
The Tar Heels quickly snatched the doubles point to secure momentum. At the #2 slot, fellow juniors Cameron Ahari and Brennan Boyajian defeated Niklas Schroeder and Philip Janz 8-2 and moments later sophomore Jose Hernandez and junior Zach Hunter won 8-2 at the No. 3 spot over Parul Verma and Carles Pons. The Tar Heels had themselves a 1-0 lead and they carried the wave into singles action.
UNC copped first set victories on five courts, failing to do so only at No. 6. Senior Stefan Hardy, the only four-year veteran in UNC's starting lineup, led the way as he nearly bageled Schroder at No. 3 singles, winning 6-0, 6-1. Carolina's top singles player, Hernandez, a native of the Dominican Republic, ousted Alex Das by a similarly lopsided margin, 6-1, 6-2.
Attention turned to courts 4 and 5 where Tar Heel players were zeroing in on straight set triumphs. Junior Joey Burkhardt was the first to cross the finish line as he whipped Janz 6-2, 6-2. The other matches were suspended at that point.
Carolina has now won eight of its past 13 NCAA Tournament matches and will look to advance to the Final 16 for the first time since 2008 on Saturday.
#18 North Carolina 4, Eastern Kentucky 0
Updated Records: North Carolina 16-7, Eastern Kentucky 21-5
NCAA First Round Match
Doubles (winner of best 2 out of 3 earns one team point)
No. 1 #36 Joey Burkhardt / Stefan Hardy (UNC) led Alex Das / Hugo Klientovsky (EKU), 7-3, suspended
No. 2 Cameron Ahari / Brennan Boyajian (UNC) d. Niklas Schroeder / Philip Janz (EKU), 8-2
No. 3 Jose Hernandez / Zach Hunter (UNC) d. Parul Verma / Carles Pons (EKU), 8-2
Order of Finish: #2, #3
Singles
No. 1 #22 Joe Hernandez (UNC) d. Alex Das (EKU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 #83 Brennan Boyajian (UNC) led Hugo Klientovsky (EKU), 6-2, 3-4, suspended
No. 3 Stefan Hardy (UNC) d. Niklas Schroeder (EKU), 6-0, 6-1
No. 4 Joey Burkhardt (UNC) d. Philip Janz (EKU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 William Parker (UNC) led Parul Verma (EKU), 6-3, 4-2, suspended
No. 6 Emilio Piriz (EKU) led Cameron Ahari (UNC), 6-3, 1-1, suspended
Order of Finish: #3, #1, #4
Players Mentioned
