Despite dropping the doubles point to begin the match on Saturday night at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill, the No. 6 ranked UNC men’s tennis team managed to win four consecutive singles matches to defeat the rival Duke Blue Devils 4-1.

The match was for the ITA Kickoff Weekend championship, which means the Tar Heels (4-0) are one of 16 teams who will compete at the ITA National Indoor Championships in Chicago from Feb. 15-18.

It was also the first time this season that UNC had dropped a point in either doubles or singles competition.

Once Duke took the lead, however, it did not last for long.

Benjamin Sigouin, Brian Cernoch, Simon Soendergaard and Mac Kiger each won in straight sets to help deliver the victory to the Tar Heels.

UNC will now get ready for matches against No. 8 Texas (Feb. 2) and No. 15 Illinois (Feb. 8) before heading off to play for the indoor championship.

“We consider ourselves one of the best teams in the country and we feel like that’s an event we need to be at, but just getting to Chicago is not enough for us,” Tar Heel star William Blumberg said afterwards. “We have a long way to go, a couple of tough weeks, but we’re going to put in a lot of work and hopefully get a good result.”

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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