After a long layoff, the No.11 Virginia men's tennis team returned outdoors to record victories over ACC foes Wake Forest and N.C. State. Though it was the Cavaliers' first pair of matches after taking an entire month off, there was little sign of rust on Sunday as Virginia easily dispatched of N.C. State, 6-1.
In cold and blustery conditions, Virginia stormed to an early 1-0 lead by sweeping N.C. State in doubles. The Cavalier duo of Rylan Rizza and Nick Meythaler, ranked No.55 nationally, overcame Will Shaw and Val Banada 8-2 in difficult weather conditions.
"Nick and I played really good doubles today," Rizza said. "Probably one of the best doubles we have played as a team this year."
The No.18-ranked pair of Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey won 8-6 over N.C. State's Ben Zink and William Noblitt. Marko Miklo and Stephen Rozek completed the whitewash with a 9-7 win over Wolfpack pair Chris Welte and Jay Weinacker. N.C. State's bid for a surprise victory ended quickly with Virginia gaining three quick singles victories to secure the win.
Meythaler, a regular starter in doubles, got a rare opportunity to play at No. 6 singles and took advantage of his opportunity by defeating Zink in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
"It was good to be out there and contributing in singles for the team," Meythaler said. "N.C. State fought hard, but I think we have a deeper team and today it paid off."
No. 44 Rizza, playing at the No. 3 slot, had few problems dealing with the challenge of Noblitt and came out on top in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
Huey gave Virginia an unassailable 4-0 lead with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Shaw. N.C. State restored some pride when Banada overcame an ankle injury and an early 3-0 deficit in the first set to defeat Virginia's Doug Stewart, 7-5, 7-5.
Devvarman got off to a good start against Nick Cavaday, taking the first set, 6-2. Cavaday fought admirably to level the match by winning the second set by the same margin, but No.9-ranked Devarrman prevented the upset by taking the third set, 6-1.
Miklo concluded the day's play by defeating Jay Weinaker 1-6, 7-5, 7-5. With his powerful serves, Weinaker gave Miklo all he could handle and both players traded breaks in an enthralling third set. Miklo prevailed eventually, though, playing a cross-court passing shot on Weinaker's serve to win the match.
Earlier on Friday, the Cavaliers overcame previously undefeated Wake Forest, ranked No. 31 nationally, 6-1. The weekend's wins took the Cavaliers, defending ACC champions, to a perfect 4-0 record in the conference.
"We are playing pretty well," Virginia coach Brian Boland said. "We put ourselves in this position and I believe we are exactly where we are supposed to be at this point."
Virginia embarks on a three-game road trip next week with matches at William & Mary, Georgia Tech and Clemson.
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