North Carolina
Georgia
#2 Georgia Downs Tar Heels 4-0 In NCAA Sweet 16
May 18, 2012 | Men's Tennis
May 18, 2012
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ATHENS, GA. - Second-ranked Georgia used its legendary home court edge and powerful singles lineup to its advantage Friday night as the Bulldogs defeated 15th-ranked North Carolina 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 at Henry Feild Stadium. Georgia advances to the NCAA quarterfinals, improving to 26-2 on the season, while the Tar Heels' dual match season ends at 15-8.
UNC junior Jose Hernandez will begin play in the NCAA singles tournament May 23 while Hernandez and senior Joey Burkhardt will begin competition in NCAA doubles play May 24.
Georgia grabbed a 1-0 lead Friday night by winning the doubles point with victories at #2 and #3 doubles. The Bulldogs' KU Singh and Wil Spencer were off the court first, beating UNC's Esben Hess-Olesen and Zach Hunter 8-4 at the #3 spot. Shortly afterwards Georgia clinched the doubles point with a win at #2 doubles spot as 41st-ranked Nathan Pasha and Ignacio Taboada downed Cameron Ahari and Brennan Boyajian of UNC 8-5. At #1 doubles, the 20th-ranked UNC doubles team of Jose Hernandez and Joey Burkhardt led Sadio Doumbia and Hernus Pieters of the Bulldogs 7-4 when the match was suspended.
Georgia won the opening set in all six singles matches en route earning the victory 4-0 in a match that ended at two hours and 33 minutes. The Bulldogs made it 2-0 as 60th-ranked Hernus Pieters defeated Oystein Steiro 6-3, 6-1 at #6 singles. At #2 singles, 19th-ranked KU Singh of the Bulldogs defeated UNC's #92 Brennan Boyajian by a 6-3, 6-1 score. The clinching point came at #5 where Nathan Pasha, the only Georgia starter not ranked in the Top 60 nationally, held off UNC's William Parker 6-2, 6-2. Of the match that were not finished, 26th-ranked Jose Hernandez of UNC had come back in the second set on #11 Wil Spencer of the Bulldogs and trailed 1-6, 5-2. #32 Sadio Doumbia of Georgia led Esben Hess-Olesen 6-2, 3-3 at #3 singles and #52 Ignacio Taboada led Joey Burkhardt 7-6 (5), 3-3 at #4 singles.
Friday's match marked the final dual match action in the careers of seniors Brennan Boyajian, Zach Hunter, Alex Rafiee, Cameron Ahari and Joey Burkhardt.
#2 Georgia 4, #15 North Carolina 0
Doubles (Team Winning Majority Of Matches Earns One Team Point)
Order of match finish: 3, 2
1. #20 Jose Hernandez and Joey Burkhardt (UNC) led Sadio Doumbia and Hernus Pietus (UGA), 7-4
2. #41 Nathan Pasha and Ignacio Taboada (UGA) d. Brennan Boyajian and Cameron Ahari (UNC) 8-5
3. KU Singh and Wil Spencer (UGA) d. Esben Hess-Olesen and Zach Hunter (UNC) 8-4
Singles (One Team Point Per Singles Match)
Order of match finish: 6, 2, 5
1. #11 Wil Spencer (UGA) led #26 Jose Hernandez (UNC), 6-1, 2-5, DNF
2. #19 KU Singh (UGA) d. #92 Brennan Boyajian (UNC) 6-3, 6-1
3. #32 Sadio Doumbia (UGA) led Esben Hess-Olesen (UNC) 6-2, 3-3, DNF
4. #52 Ignacio Taboada (UGA) led Joey Burkhardt (UNC) 7-6 (5), 3-3, DNF
5. Nathan Pasha (UGA) d. William Parker (UNC) 6-2, 6-2
6. #60 Hernus Pieters (UGA) d. Oystein Steiro (UNC) 6-3, 6-1
Records: Georgia 26-2, North Carolina 15-8
Players Mentioned
