Men's Tennis Comes From Behind To Win At South Carolina, 4-3

Sunday, March 21

Columbia, SC

1 PM

North Carolina

South Carolina

The Tar Heels celebrate their come-from-behind win at South Carolina.

March 21, 2021 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Results (.pdf)

COLUMBIA, S.C.—Top-ranked North Carolina overcame a 3-0 deficit and came from behind to win, 4-3, at 14th-ranked South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

Senior Simon Soendergaard fought off four match points in the second set with Phillip Jordan serving for the match, coming from behind to win 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, at No. 6 singles to tie the team score at 3-3. Senior Benjamin Sigouin then beat #118 Connor Thompson, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in the clinching match.

"I'm just extremely proud of our guys, to come back and win a match like that," head coach Sam Paul told The Daily Tar Heel afterward. "Beating a good South Carolina team on the road is just a really good moment for us."

With the win, UNC improved to 12-0 this season and won its 14th consecutive match. The fifth-year senior class of Soendergaard, Josh Peck and William Blumberg improved to 99-14 in dual matches over their career.

The Gamecocks won the doubles point to start the afternoon. Daniel Rodrigues and Thomson, ranked No. 44, beat No. 6 Blumberg and Brian Cernoch at No. 1, 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, USC's Jake Beasley and Toby Samuel beat Soendergaard and Mac Kiger.

The Gamecocks took a 3-0 lead with wins by Samuel over Cernoch at No. 4 singles and Rodrigues over Blumberg at No. 1 singles. The 3-0 deficit marked the largest faced by Carolina all season.

The Tar Heels won the final four singles matches of the day to seize the victory. Rinky Hijikata started things off with a win at No. 3 over Raphael Lambling, followed by wins by Josh Peck at No. 5, Soendergaard at No. 6 and Sigouin at No. 2.

#1 North Carolina 4, #14 South Carolina 3
Singles competition
1. #44 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. #2 William Blumberg (NC) 6-3, 6-2
2. #41 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. #118 Connor Thomson (SC) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
3. #55 Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. #81 Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-2, 6-4
4. Toby Samuel (SC) def. Brian Cernoch (NC) 6-3, 6-1
5. #100 Josh Peck (NC) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-2, 2-6, 6-0
6. Simon Soendergaard (NC) def. Phillip Jordan (SC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #44 Daniel Rodrigues/Connor Thomson (SC) def. #6 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) 6-3
2. Jake Beasley/Toby Samuel (SC) def. #5 Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (NC) 6-3
3. #59 Raphael Lambling/Phillip Jordan (SC) vs. Benjamin Sigouin/Rinky Hijikata (NC) 5-4, unfinished

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,1,3,5,6,2)