Duke Set for Showdown with No. 13 North Carolina

Match 21
Duke vs. [13] North Carolina – Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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DURHAM – No. 16 Duke men’s tennis is set for its third consecutive top-25 matchup when it travels to No. 13 North Carolina on Saturday at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
 
Duke is coming off a 2-0 weekend in which it defeated No. 16 Wake Forest and No. 23 NC State. North Carolina went 1-1 against those opponent’s last weekend.
 
For the second consecutive week, the Blue Devil tandem of senior Garrett Johns and freshman Pedro Rodenas collected ACC Doubles Team of the Week nods, while Rodenas also garnered solo praise as the conferences’ player of the week.
 
The duo are both listed in the latest rankings for singles action as well. Johns claimed the No. 19 position, while Rodenas came in at No. 85. Johns holds an 11-8 overall dual record on Duke’s top court and has gone 6-7 against nationally ranked opponents so far this season. Rodenas leads the team with an 18-2 dual mark, including a 9-0 record on court two. The Madrid, Spain, native is 4-3 against ranked foes and has gone 8-1 in conference play during his opening season.
 
In doubles action, the pair are ranked No. 32 after posting a 12-2 dual-match ledger. They are 5-0 in ACC play and on the top court, have gone 2-0 against nationally ranked opponents, and are currently riding an eight-match winning streak. The senior duo of Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang follow closely at No. 45. Heller and Zhang hold a record of 7-5 in dual matches this season.

HISTORY WITH NO. 13 NORTH CAROLINA

Saturday’s contest will be the 135th all-time meeting between the two programs with the Tar Heels holding the 93-41 edge on the series. Duke won the teams’ last meeting a year ago in thrilling fashion, 5-2. Prior to that, North Carolina had won nine consecutive meetings between the schools.

SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS

North Carolina brings a 15-6 overall record into Saturday’s contest, including a 7-2 mark in ACC play. Three Tar Heels are ranked nationally in singles action, while three pairs of doubles teams are also listed. Graduate student Ryan Seggerman leads North Carolina, garnering the No. 30 spot, while graduate students Brian Cernoch and Karl Poling are ranked No. 47 and No. 113, respectively. In doubles play, Seggerman is teamed up with sophomore Casey Kania as the No. 14 ranked…