With winter finally behind them, No. 5 Virginia men’s tennis took to its outdoor courts for the first time this season Friday, battling No. 6 NC State in a top-10 showdown. The Cavaliers (9-3, 1-1 ACC) debuted new doubles pairings, a strategic adjustment that brought both successes and challenges. Despite strong moments and a hard-fought effort, the Wolfpack (10-4, 2-0 ACC) ultimately defeated Virginia 4-3.
One new duo, junior Ty Switzer and freshman Jangjun Kim, struggled to find their rhythm despite an early lead. After going up 3-2, they were broken twice before falling 4-6. Meanwhile, the other newly formed duo of freshman Rafael Jodar and graduate student James Hopper proved a solid pairing, blending youthful energy with veteran experience.
Their steady play helped them secure a 6-4 victory to help Virginia shift the momentum in its favor. On Court 1, sophomore Dylan Dietrich and junior Mans Dahlberg delivered in a crucial moment, battling from a 5-5 deadlock to claim a 7-5 victory and secure the doubles point.
In singles, Jodar continued his solid play, securing a straight-set victory, 6-3, 6-4. However, the middle of the lineup struggled to gain momentum. At Court 3, freshman Keegan Rice was unable to find his rhythm, falling 2-6, 3-6, while at Court 5, Kim battled hard but ultimately lost 4-6, 3-6.
Dahlberg also put up a fight at Court 6, responding to a first-set loss with a dominant second set. Tied at 5-5 in the third, Dahlberg was broken at a critical moment and ultimately fell 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, shifting the match further in NC State’s favor.
Hopper, playing at Court 4, delivered one of the most dramatic and determined performances of the day, ensuring Virginia secured at least one crucial point in singles play. Facing a left-handed opponent, Hopper struggled early, quickly falling behind 1-5 in the opening set. But point by point, Hopper chipped away at NC State’s lead, winning six consecutive games to turn what seemed like a lost set into a stunning 7-5 victory.
Although the momentum briefly shifted in the second set, where Hopper fell 2-6, he refused to let the match slip away. He came out strong in the decisive third set, dictating the points and forcing errors from his opponent. With a mix of aggressive shot-making and steady baseline rallies, Hopper closed out the match with a commanding 6-2 final set. His comeback kept Virginia in the fight, offering a glimpse of hope in an otherwise tough match.
At Court 2, Dietrich found himself in an exhausting battle, using his strong service games to stay competitive. His match ultimately became the deciding factor in the overall outcome. Dietrich, who didn’t compete last week, was thrust into a clinch match. Nevertheless, he stepped up to the challenge and gave everything he had in this grueling three-set contest.
After failing to close out the opening set while serving at 5-4, Dietrich narrowly lost the first set 5-7 but bounced back with a 7-6 win in a tiebreaker in the second. With the overall match tied at 3-3, Dietrich’s match became the decider. But he fell after another tight set, 5-7, 7-6, 5-7, allowing NC State to secure the 4-3 victory.
Friday’s result came as a stark contrast to the teams’ previous meeting at ITA Indoors, where Virginia came away with a convincing 4-1 win. This time, both teams made adjustments to their singles lineup. Virginia swapped Hopper and Rice at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, while NC State adjusted its No. 5 position. Additionally, the Cavaliers flipped their No. 5 and No. 6 players, moving Kim ahead of Dahlberg.
With the lineup adjustments, NC State capitalized on key spots to flip the result. Unlike the teams’ previous meeting, where Virginia dominated in the middle and lower parts of the lineup, this time NC State found success at Courts 3, 5 and 6, shifting the momentum in their favor. While the Cavaliers fought hard in several close matches, including Dietrich’s three-set battle at Court 2, they ultimately fell short in deciding moments.
Virginia will hope to flip that script Sunday, when they face No. 1 Wake Forest at home.
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