Miami Falls at No. 11 UNC, 4-1
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Facing No. 11 North Carolina on its home court, the University of Miami men’s tennis team got off to a fast start in doubles, but it was not enough as the Tar Heels claimed the match, 4-1.
“Credit to North Carolina, they played well and they beat us today,” Miami head coach Aljosa Piric said. “Our guys played high level doubles and we ended up getting the doubles point; but in singles, it just seemed like we couldn’t get it going and they got on top of us quick. Our guys battled and competed, but we just couldn’t get any sort of momentum in singles.
“Credit to UNC, they are a good team and they played a good match,” Piric said. “We are going to learn from this and rest up tomorrow before getting back to work on Tuesday. We have a tough match on Friday at Louisvile, and our guys know how difficult it is to play on the road in the ACC. We are going to have to be at our best, but we are looking forward to the upcoming challenge.”
Competing at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center Sunday afternoon, No. 23 Miami’s (15-5, 6-1 ACC) No. 2 doubles tandem of redshirt junior Dane Dunlap and junior Stephen Madonia quickly took care of business against Benjamin Singouin and Brian Cernoch, 6-3.
Battling the nation’s No. 53 pair, sophomores Adria Soriano Barrera and Tatsuki Shimamoto dropped the final three games against William Blumberg and Blaine Boyden, as UNC evened the playing field with a 6-3 triumph.
All tied at 5-5 on court 3, freshmen Franco Aubone and Francisco Bastias broke the serve of Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard, before clinching the doubles point, 7-5.
In singles, the Tar Heels claimed the opening sets on all six courts and Miami then looked to mount comebacks in the second.
Kiger was the first Tar Heel to pick up a victory, topping Madonia 6-2, 6-4.
Moments later, No. 37 Sigouin defeated Bastias, 6-3, 6-3, as UNC jumped in front 2-1 in the overall match.
Battling Boyden on court 5, Aubone fell, 4-6, 1-6, as UNC moved a point away from clinching.
Seeking a comeback bid, sophomore Bojan Jankulovski, ranked No. 81 on the Oracle/ITA singles list, earned back-to-back games to even the second set at 5-5; however, No. 109 Josh Peck closed out the match, 6-3, 7-5.
Two courts remained unfinished when the match was clinched, with both courts in second-set tiebreakers.
In a top-30 showdown, No. 26 Blumberg held a slight edge over No. 27 Soriano Barrera, 6-3, 6-6 (3-3), when play was halted.
Meanwhile, on court 3, Dunlap trailed No. 110 Cernoch, 3-6, 6-6 (2-2).
Miami will look to bounce back when it wraps up a three-match road stretch in Louisville, Ky., Friday at 4 p.m. against Louisville.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesMensTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Singles
1. #26 William Blumberg (UNC) vs. #27 A. Soriano Barrera (UM) 6-3, 6-6 (3-3), unfinished
2. #37 Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) def. Francisco Bastias (UM) 6-3, 6-3
3. #110 Brian Cernoch (UNC) vs. Dane Dunlap (UM) 6-3, 6-6 (2-2), unfinished
4. #109 Josh Peck (UNC) def. #81 Bojan Jankulovski (UM) 6-3, 7-5
5. Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. Franco Aubone (UM) 6-4, 6-1
6. Mac Kiger (UNC) def. Stephen Madonia (UM) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
1. #53 William Blumberg/Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. A. Soriano Barrera/Tatsuki Shimamoto (UM) 6-3
2. Stephen Madonia/Dane Dunlap (UM) def. Benjamin Sigouin/Brian Cernoch (UNC) 6-3
3. Francisco Bastias/Franco Aubone (UM) def. Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (UNC) 7-5
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,2,5,4)
