Saturday, April 20
Cary, N.C.
10:30 AM
North Carolina
3
vs
4
Virginia (ACC Semifinals)
William Blumberg and the Tar Heels battled but coudn't pull off a win over Virginia Saturday in the ACC semifinals.
Photo by: Liz Condo, theACC.com
Tar Heels Fall in ACC Semis, Look Ahead To NCAA Tournament
April 20, 2019 | Men's Tennis
CARY, N.C. – Second-seeded Virginia edged third-seeded North Carolina 4-3 Saturday at Cary Tennis Park in a top-10 battle for a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Tennis Championship finals on Sunday. With the win, the fifth-ranked Cavaliers will meet No. 4 Wake Forest, the tournament's top seed, for the conference crown.
No. 9 UNC is now 18-6 and awaits announcement of the NCAA Tournament bracket on April 29. The Tar Heels will have nearly two weeks to rest and prepare before NCAA play begins on May 3.
"We've got big goals and we're motivated," UNC senior Blaine Boyden said. "I'm excited to see the work we put in over these two weeks."
The Tar Heels advanced to the ACC semifinals by beating Louisville 4-0 in the ACC quarterfinals Friday, in a match that was played on Duke's indoor courts because of stormy weather. Back outdoors on Saturday, the semifinal matches kicked off at 10:30 a.m., 30 minutes later than originally scheduled to allow the courts to dry after more rain overnight. On a partly cloudy day with period of bright sunshine and some gusts that had spectators holding onto their caps, the Tar Heels started strong, claiming the first two doubles decisions to take the point.
"I thought doubles was important today," said Tar Heel junior William Blumberg, who teamed with Boyden for a win on Court 1. "Led by Bo [Boyden], I thought we did an awesome job of coming out with incredible energy and taking it to them and not letting them take it to us after we lost the doubles point when we played last time."
UNC and Virginia met for their regular-season match-up just over a week ago, on April 12 in Charlottesville, Va. The Cavaliers won the doubles point and went on to a 4-2 victory. Saturday, however, the Tar Heels were determined to rewrite that script. Sophomore Mac Kiger and junior Simon Soendergaard were the first to win, 6-3 on Court 3. Blumberg and Boyden then closed out a 6-4 win in the top spot to give the Tar Heels the lead.
In singles play, sophomore Benjamin Sigouin quickly wrapped up a 6-0, 6-2 win on Court 2 to put UNC up 2-0.
The Cavaliers took the next three matches, however. On Court 6, Aswin Lizen beat Kiger in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. On Court 4, freshman Brian Cernoch fell 6-2 to Gianni Ross in his first set and played to a tiebreaker in the second, ultimately falling 7-2 in that. Court 3 also saw a tight second set, with junior Josh Peck falling 6-3, 7-5.
That left the Tar Heels needing both of the remaining points available, but with their fate in exactly the hands they'd choose. Blumberg and Boyden, the team captains, were the ones still playing, on Courts 1 and 5, respectively. "You trust everyone, but you want it in your hands," Blumberg said. Both players won their first sets comfortably but fell in tiebreakers in the second sets to tee up deciding third sets. With both remaining matches taking place on the lower courts, their teammates lined up on Court 3 between them, cheering one way then the other and leading the crowd in chants of TAR! HEELS!
Boyden finished first, beating Ryan Goetz 6-3 in the third set to tie the team score at 3-3 and put all eyes on Court 1, where Blumberg was playing singles for the first time since April 3. Hampered all month by an ankle injury, he has had limited practice time and has played doubles only in three matches since then. He has sat out the last two – vs. Louisville to wrap up the regular season and then Friday to open ACC play – completely.
Squaring off against Carl Soderlund, who is ranked fifth nationally, No. 19 Blumberg battled in the third set but ultimately fell 6-4, sending the Cavaliers into a celebration. Blumberg insisted after the match that the condition of his ankle was no excuse for the loss, but his coach was impressed by the way he battled through the hardship.
"That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever seen, for Will to come out and play like that," UNC coach Sam Paul said. "He's had limited practice time and then comes out and gives us his heart and soul, plays a great doubles match and then fought there 'til the bitter end. What a performance.
"And I can't say enough about our senior, Bo Boyden. Once again, he's there competing every single time. It was a great win for Ben, too.
"We're just looking forward to the NCAA Tournament. We've got to get healthy."
No. 5 Virginia 4, No. 9 North Carolina 3
Singles
Order of finish: 2,6,4,3,5,1
Doubles
Order of finish: 3,1
Records: UNC 18-6, UVa 21-3
No. 9 UNC is now 18-6 and awaits announcement of the NCAA Tournament bracket on April 29. The Tar Heels will have nearly two weeks to rest and prepare before NCAA play begins on May 3.
"We've got big goals and we're motivated," UNC senior Blaine Boyden said. "I'm excited to see the work we put in over these two weeks."
The Tar Heels advanced to the ACC semifinals by beating Louisville 4-0 in the ACC quarterfinals Friday, in a match that was played on Duke's indoor courts because of stormy weather. Back outdoors on Saturday, the semifinal matches kicked off at 10:30 a.m., 30 minutes later than originally scheduled to allow the courts to dry after more rain overnight. On a partly cloudy day with period of bright sunshine and some gusts that had spectators holding onto their caps, the Tar Heels started strong, claiming the first two doubles decisions to take the point.
UNC 1 UVA 0 Boyden/Blumberg clinch 6-4 pic.twitter.com/Cqqlnu7F0w
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) April 20, 2019
"I thought doubles was important today," said Tar Heel junior William Blumberg, who teamed with Boyden for a win on Court 1. "Led by Bo [Boyden], I thought we did an awesome job of coming out with incredible energy and taking it to them and not letting them take it to us after we lost the doubles point when we played last time."
UNC and Virginia met for their regular-season match-up just over a week ago, on April 12 in Charlottesville, Va. The Cavaliers won the doubles point and went on to a 4-2 victory. Saturday, however, the Tar Heels were determined to rewrite that script. Sophomore Mac Kiger and junior Simon Soendergaard were the first to win, 6-3 on Court 3. Blumberg and Boyden then closed out a 6-4 win in the top spot to give the Tar Heels the lead.
In singles play, sophomore Benjamin Sigouin quickly wrapped up a 6-0, 6-2 win on Court 2 to put UNC up 2-0.
The Cavaliers took the next three matches, however. On Court 6, Aswin Lizen beat Kiger in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. On Court 4, freshman Brian Cernoch fell 6-2 to Gianni Ross in his first set and played to a tiebreaker in the second, ultimately falling 7-2 in that. Court 3 also saw a tight second set, with junior Josh Peck falling 6-3, 7-5.
That left the Tar Heels needing both of the remaining points available, but with their fate in exactly the hands they'd choose. Blumberg and Boyden, the team captains, were the ones still playing, on Courts 1 and 5, respectively. "You trust everyone, but you want it in your hands," Blumberg said. Both players won their first sets comfortably but fell in tiebreakers in the second sets to tee up deciding third sets. With both remaining matches taking place on the lower courts, their teammates lined up on Court 3 between them, cheering one way then the other and leading the crowd in chants of TAR! HEELS!
Boyden's Match pt to tie match 3-3 pic.twitter.com/2fMHx8z7Xt
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) April 20, 2019
Boyden finished first, beating Ryan Goetz 6-3 in the third set to tie the team score at 3-3 and put all eyes on Court 1, where Blumberg was playing singles for the first time since April 3. Hampered all month by an ankle injury, he has had limited practice time and has played doubles only in three matches since then. He has sat out the last two – vs. Louisville to wrap up the regular season and then Friday to open ACC play – completely.
Squaring off against Carl Soderlund, who is ranked fifth nationally, No. 19 Blumberg battled in the third set but ultimately fell 6-4, sending the Cavaliers into a celebration. Blumberg insisted after the match that the condition of his ankle was no excuse for the loss, but his coach was impressed by the way he battled through the hardship.
Blumberg breaks on 40-40 pt, 2-1 pic.twitter.com/SXOoplBNeL
— UNC Men's Tennis (@carolinatennis) April 20, 2019
"That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever seen, for Will to come out and play like that," UNC coach Sam Paul said. "He's had limited practice time and then comes out and gives us his heart and soul, plays a great doubles match and then fought there 'til the bitter end. What a performance.
"And I can't say enough about our senior, Bo Boyden. Once again, he's there competing every single time. It was a great win for Ben, too.
"We're just looking forward to the NCAA Tournament. We've got to get healthy."
No. 5 Virginia 4, No. 9 North Carolina 3
Singles
Order of finish: 2,6,4,3,5,1
- #5 Carl Soderlund (UVA) d. #19 William Blumberg (UNC), 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4
- #38 Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) d. #82 Brandon Nakashima (UVA), 6-0, 6-2
- Henrik Wiersholm (UVA) d. #102 Josh Peck (UNC), 6-3, 7-5
- Gianni Ross (UVA) d. #116 Brian Cernoch (UNC), 6-2, 7-6(2)
- Blaine Boyden (UNC) d. Ryan Goetz (UVA), 6-1. 6-7(3), 6-3
- Aswin Lizen (UVA) d. Mac Kiger (UNC), 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
Order of finish: 3,1
- #28 Blumberg/Boyden d. #37 Wiersholm/Nakashima, 6-4
- Cernoch/Sigouin vs. Soderlund/Lord, 5-5 UF
- Kiger/Soendergaard d. Ross/Lizen, 6-3
Records: UNC 18-6, UVa 21-3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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