North Carolina
UCLA
Carolina Nips No. 10 UCLA 4-2 In ITA Indoors First Round
February 13, 2015 | Men's Tennis
CHICAGO – The No. 7 North Carolina men's tennis team edged out 10th-ranked UCLA 4-2 on Friday to advance to the quarterfinals of the ITA National Indoor Championship at Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago. Despite failing to secure the doubles point for the first time all season, Carolina rallied with a flurry of singles wins that ended with a clincher from Ronnie Schneider on court two.
The Tar Heels improve to 9-1 with the win, while the Bruins drop to 5-3.
UCLA was able to snag the doubles point with strong play at the top two spots. The Bruins' sixth-ranked Mackenzie McDonald and Martin Redlicki lived up to their lofty ranking with a 6-1 defeat of Brayden Schnur and Oystein Steiro on court one. Joseph DiGiulio and Karue Sell sealed the point soon after for the Bruins on court two, knocking off junior Brett Clark and freshman Robert Kelly 6-2.
In singles, No. 104 Jack Murray provided the Tar Heel response by cruising past UCLA's Sell 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 4 singles spot. Steiro then tacked on a 6-1, 7-5 victory over the Bruins' Gage Brymer on court four to give Carolina its first lead of the day.
The Bruins were not done, though. Martin Redlicki was able to knot up the team points at 2-2 with a three-set win over Brett Clark on court three, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Robert Kelly, ranked No. 75 in the latest ITA poll, countered for the Tar Heels with a gritty rally after falling 6-1 in the first set to Austin Rapp. Kelly was able to claw out the second set 7-6(8) in a tiebreaker before winning the decisive third set 6-4. From there, Schneider, a native of Indiana, delivered the knockout blow in his return to the Midwest. The sophomore battled through three-sets against UCLA's Dennis Mkrtchian to pull out a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 win, clinching the 4-2 triumph for the Tar Heels.
A total of two matches were suspended. In doubles, Murray and Schneider were tied 4-4 with the Bruins' Mkrtchian and Rapp when UCLA clinched the point. In singles, Tar Heel sophomore Brayden Schnur, ranked No. 6 nationally, was in a third set against No. 2 Mackenzie McDonald.
Friday's victory marks Carolina's first ever win over UCLA. The Bruins rank second all-time in wins (77) and championships (7) at the ITA Indoors.
“It felt like we were behind all day,” said UNC head coach Sam Paul. “We obviously didn't play very well in the doubles. We got wiped out pretty good at one and two, but I'm proud of my guys for coming back and fighting. I'm proud to be moving on.”
“Ronnie [Schneider] is a tough out,” Paul continued. “He's there for us every match. He's the heart and soul of our team.”
Carolina will be back in action Saturday at 1 p.m. EST against second-ranked Oklahoma. A spot in the semifinals will be at stake.
#7 UNC 4, #10 UCLA 2
Singles
1. #6 Brayden Schnur (UNC) vs. #2 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-4, unfinished
2. #19 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3
3. Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. Brett Clark (UNC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Oystein Steiro (UNC) def. Gage Brymer (UCLA) 6-1, 7-5
5. #104 Jack Murray (UNC) def. Karue Sell (UCLA) 6-2, 6-0
6. #75 Robert Kelly (UNC) def. #90 Austin Rapp (UCLA) 1-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4
Doubles
1. #6 Mackenzie McDonald/Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. Brayden Schnur/Oystein Steiro (UNC) 6-1
2. Joseph Di Giulio/Karue Sell (UCLA) def. Brett Clark/Robert Kelly (UNC) 6-2
3. Jack Murray/Ronnie Schneider (UNC) vs. Dennis Mkrtchian/Austin Rapp (UCLA) 4-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,4,3,6,2)
Players Mentioned
