CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Drake University men's tennis team fell to No. 3 North Carolina, 4-0, in the opening round of ITA Kick-off Weekend Saturday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
"Overall great efforts from every guy on court today. North Carolina is a very tough team and well coached that I personally have a lot of respect for," said Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski. "It was a tough environment playing the No. 3 team in country on their home courts but our guys came out firing and nearly pulled off the doubles point."
In two hard fought doubles matches, the Tar Heels managed to come out on top. UNC's Joshua Peck and Benjamin Sigouin edged Ben Clark and Ben Wood, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles, while Simon Soendergaard and Mac Kinger managed to slip past Tom Hands and Finley Hall, 7-5, at No. 3 to clinch the point. Vinny Gillespie and Barny Thorold were up 6-5 over No. 3 William Blumberg and Robert Kelly at No. 1 doubles as the match went unfinished.
The Tar Heels went up 2-0 as No. 94 Kelly topped Thorold, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Hall fell to Blaine Boyden, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles, while No. 2 Blumberg defeated Gillespie, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles to clinch the Tar Heel 4-0 victory.
"This team is continuing to learn and establish themselves after losing three of our top players to injury. We will be ready and excited to play No. 20 South Carolina."
The Bulldogs will close out the ITA Kick-off Event on Sunday as they take on No. 20 South Carolina in the consolation match.
No. 3 North Carolina 4, Drake 0
Doubles
Order of match finish: (2,3)
1. #3 Blumberg/Kelly (UNC) vs. Gillespie/Thorold (DU), 6-5
2. Peck/Sigouin (UNC) d. Clark/Wood (DU), 6-4
3. Soendergaard/Kiger (UNC) d. Hands/Hall (DU), 7-5
Singles
Order of match finish: (3,6,1)
1. #2 William Blumberg (UNC) d. Vinny Gillespie (DU), 6-3, 6-3
2. Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) v. Tom Hands (DU), 7-5, 3-2, UF
3. #94 Robert Kelly (UNC) dd. Barry Thorold (DU), 6-2, 6-0
4. #70 Simon Soendergaard (UNC) d. #124 Ben Clark, 6-3, 2-2 UF
5. #79 Joshua Peck (UNC) v. Ben Wood (DU), 6-4, 4-3 UF
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) d. Finley Hall (DU), 6-2, 6-2
Records: UNC 4-0, Drake 3-1
