No. 53 MTen Completes Road Slate this Weekend
The Particulars
After a 7-0 sweep over conference foe Boston College last Sunday, the 53rd-ranked University of Miami men’s tennis team will play its final two road matches of the regular season, traveling to North Carolina for a pair of matches against No. 69 North Carolina on April 12 and No. 8 Duke on April 14.
Last Time Out
The Hurricanes (13-8, 2-4 ACC) are coming off a dominant performance against Boston College on April 7. UM controlled the match from the start, winning the doubles match handily and claiming all six singles matches in straight sets.
Miami got production in doubles competition from courts one and three. Freshman Jack Murphy got his collegiate career off to a good start, battling to an 8-5 victory alongside junior Marco Stancati in his first doubles action of his career. The win set up Miami’s No. 1 doubles tandem Wilfredo Gonzalez and Omar Aly for an 8-6 victory, which clinched the doubles point for the Canes.
Miami displayed its depth in singles play, notching straight sets victories on all six courts. Striking first for the Canes was freshman standout William Albanese with a dominating 6-0, 6-1 win over Klaus Puestow at No. 6 singles. Following up was Wilfredo Gonzalez at the third position with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Billy Grokenberger.
Diego Soto clinched the match the Hurricanes, besting Philip Nelson 6-3, 6-2 at the first position. Marco Stancati won his match on court four over Kyle Childree in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. Senior Victory Mauz got the best of Matt Wagner at No. 5 singles, winning 6-2, 6-4. Rounding out Miami’s scoring was Gabriel Flores, who defeated Michael McGinnis on court two, 6-2, 6-2.
Protecting Home Court
The Hurricanes have been dominant at home all season. All while facing some of the nation’s best, including then-No. 50 Rice, No. 58 Minnesota and No. 63 Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes have managed to mark a 10-2 record on the season.
Miami will complete its home slate two weeks from now when they take on top-ranked Virginia and No. 52 Virginia Tech on April 19 and April 21, respectively.
Scouting the Tarheels
The Tarheels enter Friday with an 8-11 dual season record while posting a 1-5 record in ACC play. North Carolina has faced some stiff competition this season, as 12 of its matches have come against top-60 opponents, including 5 teams ranked in the top-20.
Esben Hess-Olesen has been the team’s primary No. 1 singles player and has posted an 8-5 record from the position. Brett Clark and William Parker, who have partnered for a 12-5 record on the season, lead Tarheels’ doubles.
Scouting the Blue Devils
The 8th-ranked Blue Devils (18-4, 6-1 ACC) are coming off a 5-2 victory over Georgia Tech in their last action. Duke has posted a perfect 10-0 record at home while going 6-3 in road matches this season.
No. 25 Henrique Cunha, who is one of three ranked singles players for Duke, highlights the team’s singles lineup, posting a 14-0 record from the No. 1 position. Cunha has also partnered with Raphael Hemmeler for a 17-2 record in doubles and are ranked as the nation’s No. 1 doubles team.
After This Weekend
Miami will play its final two matches of the regular season at home, batting top-ranked Virginia on April 19 followed by No. 52 Virginia Tech on April 21.
