The UNC men’s tennis team opened head coach Sam Paul’s 29th season at the helm with a dominant dual victory Sunday afternoon. Carolina easily swept the visiting Bucknell Bison in the team’s first match of 2022.

The Tar Heels, ranked No. 13 in the latest nationwide poll, didn’t drop a single set across any match against the Bison. Brian Cernoch, ranked No. 60 in singles, was especially dominant, blanking his opponent 6-0, 6-0. He was one of three Tar Heels on the day to take a set 6-0.

The closest match of the day saw UNC’s Henry Lieberman take the first set 6-3, but then be forced to a tiebreak in the second. Lieberman would go on to win the tiebreak 9-7, and take the second set and the match.

The doubles duo of Logan Zapp and Casey Kania, ranked No. 20 in the country, took care of business in their match, taking a breezy 6-2 victory. Lieberman and Peter Murphy won the second doubles match, ensuring UNC of a sweep victory on the day.

The team will be back in action next weekend in Chapel Hill as Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center hosts the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament. UNC will take on Northwestern on Saturday in the second semifinal of the event, with Arizona State and Ohio State playing earlier that day. A championship and consolation match will be played the following Sunday.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati


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