North Carolina
Duke Fab Four Tournament
Burkhardt & Parker Score Come-From-Behind Wins
September 17, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 17, 2011
Duke Fab 4 Invite Friday Results 
CARY, N.C. - Joey Burkhardt and William Parker of the University of North Carolina men's tennis team scored come-from-behind three-set victories on the opening day of the 2011 Duke Fab Four Invite at the Cary Tennis Center. Overall, UNC players went 2-2 in singles and 3-1 in doubles on the opening day of the tournament.
Playing in the Men's Singles BLUE flight, Burkhardt, a senior from St. Augustine, Fla., defeated Robert Hall of Louisville in come-from-behind fashion, prevailing 2-6, 6-0, 7-5. Burkhardt move on to the quarterfinals Saturday where he will meet Luke Marchese of Duke at 10 a.m. Saturday.
In the men's singles BLACK flight, two Tar Heel players fell on the first day of competition. Freshman Oystein Steiro fell to Ricky Doverspike of Alabama 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, while senior Cameron Ahari lost a tough three-setter to Andrew Carter of Louisville, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Both players will compete in the consolation quarterfinals on Saturday at 10 a.m. with Steiro playing Hunter Koontz of Virginia Tech and Ahari meeting Maks Gold of Kentucky.
UNC junior William Parker of Shelby, N.C. was a winner in the Men's Singles WHITE flight. Parker persevered to defeat Nick Sayer of Radford, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, earning a spot opposite Jamie Whiteford of William & Mary Saturday at 10 a.m. in the quarterfinals.
In Group B1 doubles, the UNC team of Parker and Ahari lost to Charlie Ghirskey and Ben Hoogland of William & Mary 8-3 in quarterfinal competition. The Tar Heel duo bounced back to defeat Cale Hammond and Jason Tahir of Duke 8-6 in the consolation semifinals. Parker and Ahari will meet Matt Thomson and Ivan Sanchez of NC State Saturday at 9 a.m. in the consolation finals of the flight.
In Group A men's doubles, the UNC duo of Joey Burkhardt and Oystein Steiro have reached the finals. They defeated Jarryd Botha and Ricky Doverspike of Alabama 8-5 in the quarterfinals and Anthony Rossi and Panav Jha of Kentucky 8-6 in the semifinals. Burkhardt and Steiro will play for the flight championship Saturday at 9 a.m. against Corrado Tocci and Luka Somen of Virginia Tech.
