University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
Tar Heels Outlast No. 29 Seminoles 5-2 For Second ACC Win
March 8, 2015 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In an impressive display of toughness, the 19th-ranked North Carolina men's tennis team bested No. 29 Florida State 5-2 on Sunday at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. Junior Brett Clark delivered the decisive blow over 3 ½ hours after first serve, sealing Carolina's victory with a three-set triumph on court two.
The Tar Heels move to 13-5 (2-0 ACC) with the victory, while the Seminoles drop to 12-4 (1-1 ACC).
A tight doubles session saw Carolina gain the early 1-0 advantage.
On court two, Clark and freshman Robert Kelly were able to get a key break to go up 7-6 on the Seminole's Michael Rinaldi and Cristian Gonzalez Mendez before Clark eventually served out the 8-6 win. Carolina's sophomore duo of Jack Murray and Ronnie Schneider secured the doubles point with an 8-5 victory on court three, but only after fending off a strong push from Florida State's pair of Terrance and Terrell Whitehurst.
In singles action, the Tar Heels were able to persist after dropping four first sets.
Gonzalez Mendez of Florida State registered the first singles win of the day with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over senior Oystein Steiro. No. 81 Jack Murray responded for Carolina on court three, overcoming an admirable effort from the Seminoles' Jose Gracia for a 7-5, 7-5 win. On court six, UNC junior Stuart DePaolo fought through a long two-set match before ultimately falling 6-3, 6-3 to Terrell Whitehurst.
With the two teams locked up at 2-2, 86th-ranked Robert Kelly rallied past Terrance Whitehurst 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 on court five to edge Carolina back out in front. All eyes then turned to courts one and two, where No. 27 Ronnie Schneider and No. 81 Brett Clark were both in third sets.
Clark was able to gain a commanding 5-2 third-set lead on court two against Michael Rinaldi, but the Florida State junior held and then got a break to claw within a game. However, Clark, a native of Naples, Fla., secured the team victory by breaking Rinaldi on his third try for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win.
Schneider played out his match on court one against Marco Nunez, eventually taking the back-and-forth duel 7-6(2), 5-7, 7-6(7) when the clock read 5:20 p.m.
“It was a very hard-fought match,” said North Carolina head coach Sam Paul. “We were able to come back and get the job done.”
Sunday's match was the first one this spring to be played outdoors.
The Tar Heels will return to action on Friday when they host Miami at 3 p.m.
#19 North Carolina 5, #29 Florida State 2
Singles Competition
1. #27 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. Marco Nunez (FS) 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 7-6 (9-7)
2. #81 Brett Clark (UNC) def. Michael Rinaldi (FS) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. #89 Jack Murray (UNC) def. Jose Gracia (FS) 7-5, 7-5
4. C. Gonzalez Mendez (FS) def. Oystein Steiro (UNC) 6-3, 6-3
5. #86 Robert Kelly (UNC) def. Terrance Whitehurst (FS) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
6. Terrell Whitehurst (FS) def. Stuart DePaolo (UNC) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. #34 Esben Hess-Olesen/Oystein Steiro (UNC) vs. Jose Gracia/Marco Nunez (FS) 6-7, unfinished
2. Brett Clark/Robert Kelly (UNC) def. Michael Rinaldi/C. Gonzalez Mendez (FS) 8-6
3. Jack Murray/Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. Terrance Whitehurst/Terrell Whitehurst (FS) 8-5
Match Notes:
Florida State 12-4 (1-1 ACC); National ranking #29
North Carolina 13-5 (2-0 ACC); National ranking #19
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,3,6,5,2,1)
Sunny, 67 degrees, wind gusts 13-22 mph
T-4:20 A-223
Players Mentioned
