Despite nearly losing its second straight doubles point, Virginia defeated Michigan 5-2 Saturday in front of a capacity crowd at the Boyd Tinsley Courts. Virginia kept its undefeated streak alive and will go into next week's National Team Indoors Championship with a perfect 6-0 record.
With court namesake and Dave Matthews Band member Boyd Tinsley in the building, the Cavaliers won several gutsy tiebreakers in doubles matches to win the first point. The team of sophomore Dominic Inglot and freshman Houston Barrick lost the first doubles match 8-5, catching several tough breaks, including a shot by a Michigan player that was wide of the net and never actually cleared the netting, catching Barrick off-guard. The last two matches came down to tiebreakers. On court three, freshman Lee Singer and junior Ted Angelinos won the third game, but then had their serve broken back in the 10th. During the tiebreak, a shot by Michigan that would have won the match and the doubles point sailed just wide and was called out, causing a Michigan player to toss his racket over the net in disbelief. Even though Virginia didn't receive the penalty point it deserved, they went on to win the match 9-8 (11-9).
"I was fortunate," Singer said. "I saw it out, so I called it out, and I was lucky enough for the ref to say it was out too."
On court one, recently named captain Treat Huey took over late in the match. The junior made several long runs over the court to get to balls that he then sent sailing past Michigan players.
"I was hitting the ball so clean, I just felt like I was in such a rhythm." Huey said. "I was hitting the ball unbelievable. Nothing against [junior] Somdev [Devvarman], but he just missed a couple of balls he usually doesn't miss, he obviously picked it up when we really needed it at the end."
The No.7 pair of Huey and Devvarman scored a mild upset over No.2 Brian Hung and Matko Maravic, winning 9-8 (7-2).
"I mean we played that team and they're No.2 in the country." Huey said. "To beat those guys is great, I feel like that's a great win."
The singles matches went a little bit smoother for the Cavaliers. No.10 Huey carried over his stellar play from doubles to handily defeat No.59 Brian Hung 6-3, 6-3. Ted Angelinos dropped his match 6-1, 6-4 to give the Wolverines their first point of the match. Michigan's hopes of winning did not last for very long, however. Devvarman easily remained undefeated on the No. 1 court for the season, downing No.44 Maravic 6-4, 6-1. Singer then dispatched senior Steve Peretz on the No. 6 court 6-2, 6-4, clinching the win for Virginia for the second straight match.
"I feel like I'm okay in pressure situations." Singer said "So I like [clinching matches] a lot."
With the match already decided, Inglot lost on the No.3 court 6-3, 6-7, (1-0) to senior Ryan Heller, and Barrick outlasted freshman George Navas on the No.5 court for the fifth and final point of the day for Virginia.
Virginia will head into the National Team Indoor Championships next weekend as a strong four-seed, and should be one of the favorites to capture the title.
"Our team is looking good right now, everybody is playing real well." Huey said. "I think we have just as good a chance as anybody to win it, so I'm definitely excited."