No. 29 Hurricanes Cruise Past Hokies, 6-1
March 27, 2011
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The29th-ranked University of Miami men’s tennis team cruised past No. 36 Virginia Tech, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center to improve to 4-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Hurricanes (10-5, 4-1) have won seven of their last nine matches – including three of four ACC matches at home, while the Hokies (11-6, 3-2) , who have won eight of their last 10 matches, drop just their second conference match of the season.
Christian Blöcker and Carl Sundberg knocked off Virginia Tech’s 52nd-ranked tandem of Luka Somen and Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles to improve to 4-1 in ACC play. At No. 3, Miami’s Pedro Ast and Eduardo Pavia clinched the doubles point to give UM the early 1-0 lead with the 8-6 win.
“We started a bit slow, but then it was just a matter of getting the intensity up and gaining confidence,” said Ast. “We finally were able to shift the momentum completely, and starting getting into our groove – and then it was all good from there.”
The Hurricanes took that momentum into singles play by winning four consecutive matches from No. 2 through No. 6 in straight sets to secure the ACC win with the insurmountable 5-0 lead.
Sundberg won his 13th singles match of the season with the 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4, following by Pavia’s team-high 17th win of the season with the 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 5. In his first match at No. 3 this season, Waylon Chin used the 6-2, 6-4 win to clinch the match for the Hurricanes.
Miami freshman Gabriel Flores, who has won eight of his last nine matches, added the fifth point with the 7-6, 6-4 victory at No. 6.
“In the beginning of the season, I was nervous when I went to the court as a freshman,” said Flores. “But now I feel more confident, and I know the team can depend on me in any situation.”
In the top two positions, Miami’s Blöcker and Keith Crowley bounced back to force third sets. At No. 1, Blöcker trailed 3-0 in the second set before reeling off six-straight games for the 6-3 set win versus Virginia Tech’s No. 45 Luka Somen. However Somen rallied to claim the lone point of the day for the Hokies with the 7-6, 3-6, 10-1 decision.
Crowley added the sixth point for Miami with the 6-7, 7-6, 10-4 win at No. 2.
“It was a special day for us, especially after Friday’s loss to Virginia,” said Miami head coach Mario Rincon. “The guys came back really strong. It started from the doubles – our No. 3 team did extremely well. They’re a relatively new team – Pedro and Eduardo, but Pedro really hit another gear and played extremely well.
“We got on top of them early on a few courts in singles. I think it’s one of the best matches we’ve played all year. I tell the seniors that we only have two matches left here at home, and they’re embracing the moment and taking advantage of the opportunity. I couldn’t be more proud of our team today.”
After five-straight home matches, the Hurricanes hit the road for a pair of ACC battles this weekend, taking on No. 39 Wake Forest on Fri., April 1 at 3:30 p.m. and No. 54 NC State on Sun., April 3 at Noon.
#29 Miami 6, #36 Virginia Tech 1
Singles
1. #45 Luka Somen (VT) def. Christian Blocker (UM) 7-6, 3-6, 10-1
2. Keith Crowley (UM) def. Patrick Daciek (VT) 6-7, 7-6, 10-4
3. Waylon Chin (UM) def. Pedro Graber (VT) 6-2, 6-4
4. Carl Sundberg (UM) def. Corrado Tocci (VT) 6-3, 6-1
5. Eduardo Pavia (UM) def. Will Beck (VT) 6-3, 6-2
6. Gabriel Flores (UM) def. Lucas Oliveira (VT) 7-6, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3*, 6, 1, 2
Doubles
1. #45 Pedro Graber/Will Beck (VT) def. Keith Crowley/Waylon Chin (UM) 8-4
2. Christian Blocker/Carl Sundberg (UM) def. #52 Luka Somen/Corrado Tocci (VT) 8-4
3. Eduardo Pavia/Pedro Ast (UM) def. Patrick Daciek/Trpimir Kujundzic (VT) 8-6
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3*
