University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Vanderbilt
UNC Earns Spot In ITA Team Indoor Championships
January 28, 2017 | Men's Tennis
UNC is 7-0 on the season after Saturday's win. The Tar Heels beat Notre Dame 4-0 on Friday to advance to the championship game of the four-team Chapel Hill site as part of ITA Kick-Off Weekend. In the Chapel Hill consolation game earlier Saturday, Notre Dame defeated Penn State 4-1.
“I'm really pleased,” UNC coach Sam Paul said. “We played well. I really liked our energy coming out in doubles. Yesterday's match helped us a lot and we were very focused – it was the best doubles we've played this year.”
Cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd that packed Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, seniors Schneider and Jack Murray at No. 2 were first to finish doubles, rolling to a 6-2 win. Sophomore Blaine Boyden and freshman Simon Soendergaard, playing together for the first time, claimed the point for UNC with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles.
In singles, the Tar Heels won five of six first sets. Freshman William Blumberg wrapped up his win at No. 2 first, 6-3, 6-2 over No. 97 Danny Valent. After Vanderbilt earned a point, the first against the Tar Heels all spring, at No. 3 singles, Murray picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 5. Schneider then sealed the win at No. 1, outlasting the Commodores' Cameron Klinger, whose hit sailed long on the final point to kick off the Tar Heels' celebration.
“Vanderbilt's got a great team,” Paul said. “I have so much respect for their coach. They're a class team. We have nothing but respect for Vanderbilt and hope they have a great year.”
The Tar Heels and Commodores will face off again in just under a month, playing in Nashville on Feb. 27.
Next up for the Tar Heels is a trip to play at Illinois on Feb. 4. UNC then hosts Ole Miss on Feb. 11. After that it's on to Charlottesville, and Carolina is looking forward to once again making the trip. “We came back from break early, on Jan. 3, to get prepared for this weekend,” Paul said. “We're growing, we're getting better. We've still got a lot of work to do but that's what makes it fun.”
Jan. 28, 2017
Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.
No. 7 North Carolina 4, Vanderbilt 1
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,3)
1. Blumberg/Kelly (UNC) vs. Klinger/Binet, 4-5
2. Murray/Schneider (UNC) d. Newman/Vertanen (VU), 6-2
3. Boyden/Soendergaar (UNC) d. McPhee/Rowe (VU), 6-3
Singles
Order of match finish: (2,3,5,1)
1. Ronnie Schneider (UNC) d. Cameron Klinger (VU), 6-4, 6-4
2. William Blumberg (UNC) d. #97 Danny Valent (VU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Baker Newman (VU) d. Simon Soendergaard (UNC), 6-1, 6-4
4. Robert Kelly (UNC) vs. Lachlan McPhee (VU), 6-3, 3-6 UF
5. Jack Murray (UNC) d. Billy Rowe (VU), 6-3, 6-3
6. Josh Peck (UNC) vs. Panu Virtanen (VU), 6-3, 1-6, 0-2 UF
Players Mentioned
