No. 24 Men's Tennis Sweeps Maryland, 7-0
April 8, 2011
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The24th-ranked University of Miami men’s tennis team recorded its second sweep of the season, cruising past No. 43 Maryland, 7-0, on Friday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
It marked the Hurricanes’ fourth-straight win over a ranked opponent, as they improve to 13-5 overall and 7-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. It is the third time in UM’s seven years of ACC play that the ‘Canes have notched seven-or-more league wins. In both previous instances – 2006 and 2009 – Miami went on to advance to the NCAA’s Round of 16.
“It was another really good win for us,” said Miami head coach Mario Rincon. “Maryland is a feisty team and fight really hard. The matches were close, but our guys were tough mentally and stayed focused. I’m really proud of all the guys and the way they’re playing and coming together as a team.”
The Hurricanes got off to a strong start in doubles competition, as their top tandem of seniors Carl Sundberg and Christian Blöcker won its fourth-straight match, upending the Maryland (10-9, 2-6) duo of Maros Horny and Jan Surovic, 8-4, to move to a team-best 9-3 overall and 7-1 in ACC play.
Playing together for the first time this season, senior Keith Crowley and freshman Omar Aly earned the 9-7 win at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point and give Miami the 1-0 lead. The Hurricanes put the possibility of a sweep into the air early, as senior Eduardo Pavia and freshman Pedro Ast secured Miami’s third doubles victory with the 9-8 (7-4) win at No. 3 over Maryland’s 71st-ranked duo of John Collins and Tommy Laine.
Freshman Gabriel Flores (18-12, 6-2) quickly dispatched of his Terrapin opponent at No. 5, 6-1, 6-2, to put the ‘Canes up 2-0. Pavia (20-9, 6-2) followed up with his team-best 20th win of the season, cruising to the 6-2, 7-5 straight-sets victory at No. 4.
With the 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 – his first in just his fourth match for the Hurricanes, freshman Diego Soto (1-3, 1-2) extended Miami’s lead to an insurmountable 4-0, clinching UM’s fifth win in its last six attempts.
Crowley (14-6, 6-2) also notched a straight-sets victory at No. 2, while Blöcker (12-15, 2-6) and Sundberg (16-11, 6-2) used a third set to claim victory. Blöcker’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory at No. 1 over Maryland’s 86th-ranked Horny marked his first over a ranked opponent this season, while Sundberg used the 5-7, 6-2, 9-7 win to seal the sweep for the ‘Canes.
“I think we played really well in doubles today,” said Blöcker. “I didn’t start my singles out very good, but I hung in there and played well in the end. Everyone competed well, so I’m confident for Sunday. It has been a good season.”
Miami will play host to Boston College (5-13, 0-7) on Sun., April 10, at Noon on Senior Recognition Day. The ‘Canes will honor their five seniors – Blöcker, Crowley, Waylon Chin, Pavia and Sundberg– during their final home match of the 2011 regular season.
“It’s a tight group of guys,” said Rincon about the senior class. “We’ve been through a lot with them and have some amazing memories. I can’t believe it’s coming down to our final regular-season home match. I’m going to miss them very much, and I thank them for all their efforts towards making this program better.”
Admission is free to all regular-season matches at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
#24 Miami 7, #43 Maryland 0
Singles
1. Christian Blocker (UM) def. #86 Maros Horny (MD) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
2. Keith Crowley (UM) def. John Collins (MD) 6-3, 6-3
3. Carl Sundberg (UM) def. Sergio Wyss (MD) 5-7, 6-2, 9-7
4. Eduardo Pavia (UM) def. Jesse Kiuru (MD) 6-2, 7-5
5. Gabriel Flores (UM) def. Tommy Laine (MD) 6-1, 6-2
6. Diego Soto (UM) def. Andy Magee (MD) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: 5, 4, 6*, 1, 2, 3
Doubles
1. Carl Sundberg/Christian Blocker (UM) def. Maros Horny/Jan Surovic (MD) 8-4
2. Keith Crowley/Omar Aly (UM) def. Andy Magee/Jesse Kiuru (MD) 9-7
3. Eduardo Pavia/Pedro Ast (UM) def. #71 John Collins/Tommy Laine (MD) 9-8 (7-4)
Order of finish: 1, 2*, 3
