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The defending champs had their home opener on Saturday and they didn’t disappoint the crowd of over 600 as #1 Virginia outmuscled #6 Florida 5-2. Virginia struggled in doubles last week against Vanderbilt and Kentucky but against Florida they got off to quick starts at No. 2 and No. 3 and won both courts to take the early 1-0 lead. Florida would jump out to break leads on four different courts in singles but they’d only be able to claim two first sets as Virginia made its move. 

Virginia junior Henrik Wiersholm extended the lead to 2-0 with a straight set win over Maxx Lipman at No. 6. The first set had multiple breaks with Lipman leading most of the set but after Wiersholm broke for 4-4 he’d take the next eight games to close it out 6-4, 6-0. 

Virginia senior Thai-Son Kwiatkowski made it 3-0 after he defeated Chase Perez-Blanco in straight sets at No. 2. As with Wiersholm, Kwiatkowski went down an early break at 2-1 but he broke back in the next game and then broke on the deciding point to take the opening set 6-4. Kwiatkowski jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set and he’d break Perez-Blanco at love to close out the 6-4, 6-2 win. 

Virginia senior J.C. Aragone would provide the clincher with a straight set win over McClain Kessler at No. 4. Kessler earned the first break of the set when he went ahead 4-3 but he double faulted the break back on the deciding point to make it 4-4. Aragone held for 5-4 and then he broke Kessler at love to take the opening set 6-4. Aragone went up 3-0 to start the second set but Kessler would come back from 4-1 down to even it at 4-4. After three more holds, Aragone would break Kessler on the deciding point to take it 6-4, 7-5.

The remaining matches were played out with Virginia freshman Carl Soderlund cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elliott Orkin at No. 3 while Florida managed to take the final two with sophomore Alfredo Perez defeated Collin Altamirano 7-6, 7-5 and freshman Johannes Ingildsen getting past Alexander Ritschard 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.

#1 Virginia 5, #6 Florida 2
Singles competition
1. #9 Alfredo Perez (FLA) def. Collin Altamirano (VA) 7-6 (7-1), 7-5
2. #28 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (VA) def. Chase Perez-Blanco (FLA) 6-4, 6-2
3. Carl Soderlund (VA) def. #60 Elliott Orkin (FLA) 6-2, 6-2
4. #64 J.C. Aragone (VA) def. #76 McClain Kessler (FLA) 6-4, 7-5
5. #109 Johannes Ingildsen (FLA) def. Alexander Ritschard (VA) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
6. Henrik Wiersholm (VA) def. Maxx Lipman (FLA) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #55 Luca Corinteli/Carl Soderlund (VA) vs. #7 Alfredo Perez/Johannes Ingildsen (FLA) *3-5, unfinished
2. Thai-Son Kwiatkowski/Alexander Ritschard (VA) def. Chase Perez-Blanco/Maxx Lipman (FLA) 6-3
3. Collin Altamirano/J.C. Aragone (VA) def. Elliott Orkin/McClain Kessler (FLA) 6-2
Match Notes
Virginia 4-0; National ranking #1
Florida 6-1; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,2,4,3,5,1)
T-2:23 A-614

Post-Match Quotes from UVA’s recap
“What a tremendous environment. We appreciated our fans coming out and supporting us in our home opener,” said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “Picking up a victory over a top Florida team that challenged us last year was a great way to start our home matches. I thought we came out and played pretty well in doubles. That was something we struggled with last week, but we turned that around and played better, at three-doubles in particular. That gave us a boost that carried through pretty well in singles. Florida is a team that will be contending to win the SEC and vie for a national championship, so this certainly was a good test for us. I think we are in a really good spot right now, but there is always more work to do.”

Post-Match Quotes from Florida’s recap
“Virginia played better than us on the critical points today in both singles and doubles overall. It was a good experience to play inside, and I know it helped to prepare us for National Team Indoors next week. We will watch the videos and figure out what we need to improve to reverse this result the next time – head coach Bryan Shelton

“I really enjoy working with our coaches and players. We are all determined to keep improving every single day.”

 

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#5 North Carolina won a close doubles point over #23 Ole Miss and then the Tar Heels turned it up a few notches and picked up five straight set wins in singles with freshman Simon Soendergaard clinching the win at No. 4.

Post-Match Video Interview with Ronnie Schneider & Anu Kodali

#5 North Carolina 6, #23 Ole Miss 1
Feb 11, 2017 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. #16 Ronnie Schneider (NC) def. #20 Gustav Hansson (OM) 6-4, 6-4
2. William Blumberg (NC) def. Tim Sandkaulen (OM) 6-2, 6-2
3. Robert Kelly (NC) def. Ricardo Jorge (OM) 6-3, 6-3
4. Simon Soendergaard (NC) def. Zvonimir Babic (OM) 6-1, 6-2
5. Fabian Fallert (OM) def. #79 Joshua Peck (NC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
6. Blaine Boyden (NC) def. Grey Hamilton (OM) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #21 Robert Kelly/William Blumberg (NC) def. #18 Fabian Fallert/Grey Hamilton (OM) 6-3
2. Ronnie Schneider/Anu Kodali (NC) def. Tim Sandkaulen/Gustav Hansson (OM) 7-6 (8-6)
3. Blaine Boyden/Simon Soendergaard (NC) vs. Ricardo Jorge/Zvonimir Babic (OM) 6-6, unfinished
Match Notes
Ole Miss 2-2; National ranking #23
North Carolina 9-0; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,4,6,1,5)
T-2:30 A-560

Post-Match Quote from UNC’s recap
“They’ve got a very good program,” UNC coach Sam Paul said of Ole Miss. “This was a tough match, exactly what we needed before we go to National Team Indoors.”

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In a battle of top 20 teams it was #18 Michigan going on the road and getting a 5-2 win over #19 Columbia. Michigan took the doubles point after breaking Victor Pham from 15/40 in the decider at No. 1 and then the teams split first sets in singles. 
 
Michigan’s Jathan Malik won in straight sets at No. 1 to extend the lead to 2-0 but Columbia’s Jackie Tang would put the Lions on the board with a straight set win at No. 3. Michigan’s Carter Lin won in straight sets at No. 6 to make it 3-1 and then Alex Knight clinched the match with a come from behind 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 4.
 
They played the final two matches out with Columbia’s Shawn Hadavi winning in three sets at No. 2 while Michigan’s Runhao Hua won in three sets at No. 5. 
 
#18 Michigan 5, #19 Columbia 2
Feb 11, 2017 at New York City (Dick Savitt Tennis Center)
Doubles Results
1. Malik/Johnston (UM) def. #14 Pham/Pham, 7-5
2. Knight/Hua (UM) def. #30 Hadavi/Tang, 6-3
3. Grant/Ambrozy (CU) def. Schalet/Wong, 6-2
Singles Results
1. Jathan Malik (UM) def. #87 Victor Pham (CU) 6-3, 6-2
2. #39 Shawn Hadavi (CU) def. #83 Kevin Wong (UM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
3. #100 Jackie Tang (CU) def. Myles Schalet (UM) 6-3, 7-6
4. Alex Knight (UM) def. Alex Keyser (CU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Runhao Hua (UM) def. William Matheson (CU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Carter Lin (UM) def. Timothy Wang (CU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
Match Notes
Michigan 5-1; National ranking #18
Columbia 2-2; National ranking #19
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,3,6,4,2,5)
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South Alabama defeated a Power 5 program for the first time since 2008 (Nebraska) and a SEC program for the first time since 2007 (Miss St) after defeating Auburn 5-2. Auburn jumped out to a 2-0 lead after winning the doubles point and picking up a win from Max Hinnisdaels at No. 1 but South Alabama kept chipping away at the lead. Loic Cloes won in straight sets at No. 6 and the Jags picked up three-set wins from Juan Cruz Soria, Olivier Gingras, Clement Marzol, and Lucas Gonzalez with Gingras clinching in a third set tiebreak at No. 3.  
 
 

 
South Alabama 5, Auburn 2
Feb 11, 2017 at Mobile, Alabama (Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts)
Singles Results
1. Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Tuki Jacobs (USA) 6-2, 6-2
2. Juan Cruz Soria (USA) def. Carles Sarrio (AU) 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5
3. Olivier Gingras (USA) def. Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Clement Marzol (USA) def. Edward Nguyen (AU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Lucas Gonzalez (USA) def. Dante Saleh (AU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
6. Loic Cloes (USA) def. Brandon Laubser (AU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Max Hinnisdaels/Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Juan Cruz Soria/Olivier Gingras (USA) 6-4
2. Edward Nguyen/Dante Saleh (AU) def. Tuki Jacobs/Loic Cloes (USA) 6-4
3. Carles Sarrio/Olle Thestrup (AU) vs. Clement Marzol/Lucas Gonzalez 5-5 unfinished
Match Notes
South Alabama 6-2
Auburn 4-4
Order of Finish: Doubles: 2,1; Singles: 1,6,5,4,3,2
 
Post-Match Quotes from USA’s recap
“It really looked like it was over,” said USA head coach Nick Brochu. “We sat down and said, we are making the mistakes, and we just have to fix them.”
 
“We talked about playing to win,” Brochu said. “We don’t play safe. We play to win, and that’s when we are at our best.”
 
“That’s big,” said Brochu. “Gingras stepped up, and he’s been there before. Even as a freshman, he pulled out some big wins, so he has been in this position before. I don’t think he felt the pressure.”
 
“It’s great tennis,” said Brochu. “Not only were our guys playing well, we were playing a quality opponent. I am so grateful everyone showed up, and we won, so it’s even better.”
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Penn came close to beating a Big Ten school last weekend when it fell to Minnesota 4-3 with the decider finishing in a third set tiebreak but on Saturday the Quakers managed to get the job done with a thrilling 4-3 win over Wisconsin.
 
Wisconsin took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 and then Badgers extended the lead to 3-1 with wins from Chema Carranza and Daniel Soyfer while Penn picked up a win from Kyle Mautner at No. 1. Penn narrowed the gap with a straight set win from Josh Pompan at No. 2 and then Gabe Rapoport tied the match at 3-3 with a straight set win at No. 5. 
 
It looked like Wisconsin was going to pull it out when Osgar O’Hoisin led Max Cancilla 5-3 in the third set at No. 4 but Cancilla fought off two match points to break and then another to hold for 5-5. Cancilla broke for 6-5 and then served out the 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 win. 
 

 
Penn 4, Wisconsin 3
Feb 10, 2017 at Philadelphia, PA
Doubles Results
1. Dodridge/Carranza (W) def. Mautner/Nardella (Penn), 6-4
2. Remy/Colton (W) def. Sharp/Podesta (Penn), 6-3
3. Pompan/Spratt (Penn) def. Zordani/O’Hoisin, 6-2
Singles Results
1. Kyle Mautner (Penn) def. Josef Dodridge (W), 6-1, 6-2
2. Josh Pompan (Penn) def. Lamar Remy (W), 6-4, 6-4
3. Chema Carranza (W) def. Matt Nardella (Penn), 6-3, 7-6
4. Max Cancilla (Penn) def. Osgar O’Hoisin (W), 6-7, 7-6, 7-5
5. Gabe Rapoport (Penn) def. Chase Colton (W), 7-6, 6-4
6. Daniel Soyfer (W), def. Kaden Funk, 6-3, 6-3
Match Notes
Penn 4-2
Wisconsin 3-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,3,6,2,5,4)
 
Post-Match Quotes from Wisconsin’s recap
“It was a very tough loss today,” head coach Danny Westerman said. “We definitely had our chances today but Penn played some wonderful tennis and deserved it in the end.”
 
 
Other Notable Results
 
  • #20 Stanford looked sharp in a 7-0 win over UNLV – the Cardinal swept all three doubles courts and won 12 of 14 sets in singles
  • Oregon improved to 7-1 with a 5-2 win over Iowa – Thomas Laurent put the Ducks ahead 4-1 with a clinching 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 1  
  • NC State improved to 6-3 with a 5-2 win over Minnesota which was the Gophers first loss of the year – Minnesota took the doubles point but NCST won at 1 through 5 singles
  • Washington was pushed by Portland but the Huskies pulled away to win 6-1 – UW won all three matches that went three sets. 
  • Florida State picked up a pair of dominating 4-0 wins over George Washington and College of Charleston – the Noles won every completed set in singles. 
  • Arkansas rolled over Lamar and UMKC winning both matches 7-0  – the Hogs won 12 of 13 sets in singles against UMKC while Lamar was able to force three third sets.
  • Mercer came back from 3-1 down to defeat Charlotte 4-3 as sophomore Nicolas Guillon erased a 4-0 third set deficit to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). 
  • Cornell is off to its best start since 2004 after cruising past St. John’s 6-1 – the Big Red won five singles matches in straight sets 
  • Utah State ran its winning streak to five with a 4-0 win over Marquette and a tough 4-3 win over Grand Canyon in matches that were played in Tucson. Utah State and Grand Canyon played singles first but since it was tied at 3-3 they played doubles to decide the match and the Aggies came out on top with wins at No. 1 and No. 2.
  • BYU went on the road and defeated Boise State 4-2 with Aidan Carrazedo clinching the match with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 6
  • Michigan State snapped Western Michigan’s 27-match home court winning streak with a 4-3 win – Sparty took the doubles point by winning the deciding at No. 1 in a tiebreak and then all six singles matches finished in straight sets with junior Brett Forman clinching at No. 1 by a 6-3, 7-5 score. 
  • Notre Dame won its ACC opener with a lopsided 7-0 win over Boston College – the Irish won all 12 sets in singles with 6 of those sets having a 6-1 score
  • Buffalo improved to 2-3 with a 6-1 win on the road over Army – Bulls won 11 of 13 sets in singles.
  • Virginia Tech won its second and third matches of the year on Saturday with a 7-0 win over St. Bonaventure and a 6-1 win over Davidson
  • San Diego State held off a late charge from UC Irvine to win 4-3 as Marko Goles-Babic won the decider at No. 2 over Luca Marquard 7-5, 4-6, 7-5
  • UC Davis made the trip south to San Diego and defeated the Toreros 4-3 in what was the first-ever meeting between these two California schools – San Diego led 3-2 but UC Davis won the final two matches with freshman Max Pham winning 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6 and senior Alec Adamson winning the decider at No. 2 by a 7-5, 7-6(5) score 
  • UC Santa Barbara took the doubles point and then picked up three quick straight set wins to defeat Pacific 4-3 – Pacific won a pair of matches in third set supertiebreaks after the outcome had already been decided. 
  • Fresno State picked up an authoritative 7-0 win over Nebraska in a match that was played at Oregon – FSU won all nine completed sets in singles with Nebraska retiring in two spots after the outcome had been decided. 
  • Santa Clara dropped the doubles point and five first sets against Nevada but came back to win 4-1 with wins at 1, 2, 3, and 4.