North Carolina
Tulsa
Tar Heels Step Out Of Conference For 5-2 Win Over Tulsa
March 25, 2017 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a midseason nonconference match, the ninth-ranked North Carolina men's tennis team topped visiting Tulsa 5-2 at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center Saturday afternoon. The Tar Heels improved to 16-2 on the year and remain unbeaten at home this season. The Golden Hurricane fell to 10-12.
“Tulsa's got a good program,” UNC head coach Sam Paul said. “They've got a good team, and they've played a tough schedule. I think it was a really good effort on our part.”
UNC locked up the doubles point to gain an early lead. With the Tar Heels up 5-4 on all three courts, freshman Simon Soendergaard and senior Jack Murray registered the first win of the day with a 6-4 victory over Dominic Bechard and Okkie Kellerman. On court one, freshman William Blumberg and junior Robert Kelly, ranked No. 16 nationally, won by the same score. Their defeat of No. 54 Majed Kilani and Or Ram-Harel clinched the opening point and halted the court three match, UNC's Ronnie Schneider and Anu Kodali, at 5-5.
In singles play, No. 19 Schneider continued his success against ranked players with his fifth victory over a top-30 opponent this dual season. The senior cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 25 Ram-Harel on court one.
“I've been working really hard in the off days that we've had,” Schneider said. “I think today was good for myself and for the other guys on the team as well.”
Murray followed suit on court five with his own victory against Daniel Santos. Murray approached the net and sent Santos' shot sailing just wide, completing the 6-3, 6-0 win and putting the Tar Heels one point away from clinching the match.
Tulsa claimed its first point of the day with a win on court four, where Dominic Bechard beat No. 54 Robert Kelly 6-2, 7-5.
Sophomore Blaine Boyden, playing on court six, sealed the deal for the Tar Heels, defeating Mitchell Pritchard in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Though the match had been clinched, the teams continued play on the remaining courts. Blumberg served out his match to beat Majed Kilani 7-5, 6-4 on court two. On court three, Soendergaard battled to win his second set 7-5 after dropping the first set 6-4. Tulsa's Jarod Hing ultimately won 10-4 in a third-set tiebreaker, giving the Golden Hurricane another point and making the final match score 5-2 in favor of the Tar Heels.
“We learned a lot today,” said Paul. “This match will help us as we begin for the end run of ACC play.”
Next weekend, North Carolina continues its home stand with a pair of ACC matches against Miami and Florida State. The Tar Heels host the Hurricanes on Friday at 3 p.m. and face the Seminoles on Sunday at noon.
March 25, 2017
Cone-Kenfied Tennis Center
Chapel Hill, N.C.
#9 North Carolina 5, Tulsa 2
Doubles Results
Order of match finish: (2, 1)
1. #16 Blumberg/Kelly (UNC) def. #54 Kilani/Ram-Harel (Tulsa) 6-4
2. Murray/Soendergaard (UNC) def. Bechard/O. Kellerman (Tulsa) 6-4
3. Kodali/Schneider (UNC) vs. Hing/Santos (Tulsa) 5-5, unfinished
Singles results
Order of match finish: (1, 5, 4, 6, 2, 3)
1. #19 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. #25 Or Ram-Harel (Tulsa) 6-2, 6-1
2. #31 William Blumberg (UNC) def. Majed Kilani (Tulsa) 7-5, 6-4
3. Jarod Hing (Tulsa) def. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (4)
4. Dominic Bechard (Tulsa) def. #54 Robert Kelly (UNC) 6-2, 7-5
5. Jack Murray (UNC) def. Daniel Santos (Tulsa) 6-3, 6-0
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. Mitchell Pritchard (Tulsa) 6-4, 6-1
Records: UNC 16-2, Tulsa 10-12
Players Mentioned
