North Carolina
Virginia Tech
No. 16 Hokies Squeak Past No. 14 Tar Heels 4-3
March 30, 2015 | Men's Tennis
BLACKSBURG, Va. – In another contest decided by a three-set singles match, the No. 14 North Carolina men's tennis team fell to No. 16 Virginia Tech 4-3 on Sunday evening at Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center. The loss drops the Tar Heels to 14-8 (3-3 ACC), while the Hokies improve to 14-2 (6-1 ACC).
The match began in promising fashion for the Tar Heels, who took the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. Carolina's steady sophomore duo of Jack Murray and Ronnie Schneider notched the first win by taking out the Hokies' pair of Jai Corbett and Florian Nicoud 8-3 on court three, and junior Brett Clark and freshman Robert Kelly delivered an 8-4 triumph over Joao Monteiro and Edoardo Tessaro on court two to secure the point.
However, the Hokies took control of the match in singles play, earning wins on four of the six courts.
Jai Corbett struck first for Virginia Tech by ousting Tar Heel senior Oystein Steiro 6-3, 6-3 on court five. On court four, Robert Kelly suffered only his third dual-match loss at the hands of Edoardo Tessaro, who prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets for the Hokies.
Jack Murray provided the response for UNC with Virginia Tech leading 2-1. The Michigan native overcame a tough first set to grit out a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Hunter Koontz on court three. Virginia Tech edged out in front again behind Aaron Gomez, who fought off a persistent Stuart DePaolo to earn a 7-6(2), 7-6 victory on court six.
Carolina refused to go away easily, as both teams continued exchanging singles wins to the end. Brett Clark, ranked 69th nationally, tied up the proceedings yet again with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Tech's 109th-ranked Joao Monteiro on court two. With the match hanging in the balance, Ronnie Schneider managed to force a third set against 45th-ranked Andreas Bjerrehus but ultimately came up just short, falling 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Sunday marks Carolina's third loss by a single team point this spring. All three have come against teams ranked in the nation's top-16.
Sophomore Brayden Schnur missed his seventh consecutive match due to injury for the Tar Heels.
UNC will take to the courts again on Friday against Boston College at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
#16 Virginia Tech 4, #14 North Carolina 3
Singles Competition
1. #45 Andreas Bjerrehus (VT) def. #24 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
2. #69 Brett Clark (UNC) def. #109 Joao Monteiro (VT) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
3. Jack Murray (UNC) def. Hunter Koontz (VT) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. Edoardo Tessaro (VT) def. #99 Robert Kelly (UNC) 6-4, 7-5
5. Jai Corbett (VT) def. Oystein Steiro (UNC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Aaron Gomez (VT) def. Stuart DePaolo (UNC) 7-6(2), 7-6
Doubles Competition
1. #64 Bjerrehus/Koontz (VT) vs. #27 Hess-Olsen/Steiro (UNC) 7-3 DNF
2. Clark/Kelly (UNC) def. Monteiro/Tessaro (VT) 8-4
3. Murray/Schneider (UNC) def. Corbett/Florian Nicoud (VT) 8-3
Match Notes:
North Carolina 14-8, 3-3; National ranking #14
Virginia Tech 14-2, 6-1; National ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,4,3,6,2,1)
Players Mentioned
