@CanesMensTennis Fall to No. 14 Virginia Tech
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes men’s tennis team battled but fell to No. 14 Virginia Tech, 7-0, Friday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
“We were in a position to win a lot more first sets and we had plenty of opportunities,” said head coach Mario Rincon. “We just did not believe that we could close them out and this is a highly ranked team, but with a little bit more belief we could have been right in there,” said Rincon.
The day began with doubles play where the Canes could not contain the Hokies. Senior Henrique Tsukamoto and freshman Piotr Lomacki fell to No. 63 Andreas Bjerrehus and Hunter Koontz, 8-5. The freshman duo of Alexander Fahnehjelm and Kevin Bondar battled in a competitive match but fell against Amerigo Contini and Jai Corbett, 8-4, which clinched the doubles point for the Hokies.
Senior Wilfredo Gonzalez and sophomore Bernard Tefel were down, 7-5, to Joao Monteiro and Edoardo Tessaro when the match was called.
In singles action, No. 73 Lomacki fell in a tough match against No. 36 Andreas Bjerrehus, 6-2, 6-4. Fellow freshman Niclas Genovese battled in the first but did not have enough against Aaron Gomez falling, 6-4, 6-2.
Senior Tsukamoto pushed the match to the limit but could not close out in a competitive match against Edoardo Tessaro falling, 7-5, 7-6(4), which secured the victory for the Hokies.
At the number two singles spot, freshman Christian Langmo won the first set but was unable to develop a consistent rhythm and fell in three sets to No. 68 Amerigo Contini, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Fellow senior Gonzalez pushed his match to a first-set tiebreak but could not close out falling in straight sets to No. 110 Joao Monteiro, 7-6(4), 6-3.
Sophomore Tefel battled after coming back to win the second set but fell to Jai Corbett in an epic three-set match, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1).
“Bernard played a great match,” said Rincon. “I am very proud of the way he competed and way he approached the match to do what he needed to do to give himself a really good chance to win the match and that is the way he should compete every time,” closed Rincon.
The Canes will be back in action Sunday, April 19 for their regular season finale against No. 4 Virginia at 2 p.m. at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Stay up to date with the Canes on HurricaneSports.com. To interact with the UM men’s tennis team socially, follow @CanesMensTennis on Twitter and Instagram and like the team on Facebook.com/CanesMensTennis.
#14 Virginia Tech 7, Miami 0
Singles Competition
1. #38 Andreas Bjerrehus (VT) def. #73 Piotr Lomacki (UM), 6-2, 6-4
2. #68 Amerigo Contini (VT) def. Christian Langmo (UM), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. #110 Joao Monteiro (VT) def. Wilfredo Gonzalez (UM), 7-6(4), 6-3
4. Edoardo Tessaro (VT) def. Henrique Tsukamoto (UM), 7-5, 7-6(4)
5. Jai Corbett (VT) def. Bernard Tefel (UM), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1)
6. Aaron Gomez (VT) def. Niclas Genovese (UM), 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. #63 Bjerrehus/Koontz (VT) def. Tsukamoto/Lomacki (UM), 8-5
2. Monteiro/Tessaro (VT) vs. Gonzalez/Tefel (UM), 7-5, unfinished
3. Contini/Corbett (VT) def. Fahnhejelm/Bondar (UM), 8-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,6,4,2,3,5)
