University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia
Tar Heels Advance With Hard-Fought Win Over Georgia
February 18, 2017 | Men's Tennis
The matchup pitted UNC (10-0) against the Bulldogs (3-4), the team that ended the Tar Heels' 2016 season in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
“It was a great win for us,” UNC coach Sam Paul said of the match. “Georgia's got a great team. Their kids always fight hard. It's a tough first round for us.”
Playing at the Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va., the Bulldogs grabbed an early lead by clinching the doubles point. Georgia's Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski struck first on court one, defeating junior Robert Kelly and freshman William Blumberg 6-4. It was the first loss of the season for the 21st-ranked Tar Heel duo after starting the season 6-0 in doubles play.
Moments later, Emil Reinberg and Walker Duncan beat UNC seniors Jack Murray and Ronnie Schneider 6-4 to lock up the point.
“We love adversity,” Paul said. “Obviously we settled down after that and just went to work.”
Singles proved to be a battle, with two matches extending into third sets. Sophomore Blaine Boyden was the first to notch a win for the Tar Heels, beating Georgia's Robert Loeb 6-2, 6-3 on court six.
On court three, Georgia regained a 2-1 lead as Tar Heel freshman Simon Soendergaard fell to No. 117 Nathan Ponwith 6-4, 6-3.
Murray evened the score with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Duncan on court five. Fellow senior and 16th-ranked Schneider outlasted No. 15 Wayne Montgomery in a top-25 matchup on court one. Schneider narrowly avoided a third set, winning 6-3, 7-6(9). His victory put the Tar Heels one point away from clinching the match.
The match came down to Blumberg and Kelly, playing beside each other on courts two and six. Both Tar Heels were in position to win, but it was Blumberg who sent Carolina to the quarterfinals. After winning a close first set 7-5, Blumberg dropped his second set 2-6. The freshman rallied in his third set, and his strong serve sent No. 55 Reinberg's return sailing long to secure a Carolina victory.
The Tar Heels play again on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., facing fourth-seeded Cal, a 4-2 winner over Baylor on Friday.
#5 North Carolina 2, #10 Georgia 2
Doubles Results
Order of match finish: (1, 2)
1. Zielinski/Loeb (UGA) def. #21 Blumberg/Kelly (UNC) 6-4
2. Reinberg/Duncan (UGA) def. Murray/Schneider (UNC) 6-4
3. Boyden/Soendergaard (UNC) vs. Ponwith/Montgomery (UGA) 5-5, unfinished
Singles results
Order of match finish: (6, 3, 5, 1, 2)
1. #16 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. #15 Wayne Montgomery (UGA) 6-3, 7-6 (9)
2. William Blumberg (UNC) def. #55 Emil Reinberg (UGA) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
3. #117 Nathan Ponwith (UGA) def. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) 6-4, 6-3
4. Robert Kelly (UNC) v. Jan Zielinski (UGA) 2-6, 7-6, 4-3, unfinished
5. Jack Murray (UNC) def. Walker Duncan (UGA) 7-5, 6-4
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. Robert Loeb (UGA) 6-2, 6-3
Records: UNC 10-0, Georgia 3-4
Players Mentioned
