The top-ranked Virginia men’s tennis team remained unbeaten last weekend as it downed No. 8 Duke 4-3 and No. 70 North Carolina 6-1.
The Cavaliers (13-0, 2-0 ACC) hosted Duke (14-4, 2-1 ACC) Friday after last facing the Blue Devils in February’s ITA National Team Indoors. Virginia won the doubles point for the seventh consecutive time in what would eventually prove a critical start to a highly contested match.
No. 2 pair senior Jarmere Jenkins and freshman Mac Styslinger fell to No. 1 Henrique Cunha and Raphael Hemmeler 8-3 on the first court, but No. 46 junior Alex Domijan and sophomore Mitchell Frank followed by defeating No. 9 Michael Redlicki and Jason Tahir 8-3 on the second. The No. 27 tandem of junior Justin Shane and senior Julen Uriguen clinched the point with a triumph against No. 25 Chris Mengel and Fred Saba 8-5 at No. 3.
In singles, No. 81 Frank made quick work of No. 26 Redlicki on court three before Duke took the next three wins to storm to a 3-2 advantage.
On the fourth court, No. 12 Styslinger kept the Cavaliers alive with a 6-1, 7-6(7) win against No. 89 Mengel. Uriguen, in the No. 6 slot, finished the match a hero with a 7-6(6), 6-4 win against Tahir, clinching a nerve-wracking win for Virginia.
Sunday’s match against North Carolina (7-10, 0-4 ACC) was considerably less dramatic. Domijan and Frank topped Brett Clark and William Parker 8-1 at No. 2 doubles, while Jenkins and Styslinger defeated Nelson Vick and Esben Hess-Olesen 8-4 on the first court to quickly claim the doubles point.
The Cavaliers then cruised through singles play. Domijan, at No. 3, topped No. 113 Vick 6-1, 6-1 to bounce back from Friday’s loss. Styslinger finished next with a 6-2, 6-1 win against No. 114 Oystein Steiro at No. 5, and No. 70 freshman Harrison Richmond clinched the win for Virginia at the No. 6 slot with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Maik Ulrich.
Frank defeated No. 104 Clark 6-2, 6-4 on the second court before the Tar Heels secured their only point when Parker ousted No. 22 Ryan Shane 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Jenkins capped the match on the first court by prevailing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 against No. 35 Hess-Olesen.
The weekend sweep extended the Cavaliers’ record win streak against ACC foes to a staggering 95.
Virginia returns to action Thursday against Virginia Tech for its last home match for two weeks. Opening serve at the Synder Tennis Center is at 3 p.m.
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