CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Fighting Illini men’s tennis defeated No. 16 North Carolina, 4-3, after a three set win from William Mroz at Chewning Tennis Center at the ITA Kickoff Weekend.
Doubles came and went quickly, starting with Mathis Debru and Kenta Miyoshi defeating Peter Murphy and Patrick Schoen, 6-3. Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins clinched the doubles point shortly after, beating Will Jansen and Karl Poling, 6-4.
The Tar Heels came back for blood in singles, taking the first three matches. Heck turned it around, beating Poling 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Petrov followed suit, defeating Schoen 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Mroz clinched took the win for the Illini when he beat Phillip Jordan 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-3, catapulting Illinois into the championship round.
The Illini will now have to conquer No. 17 Wake Forest at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. The winner of that match will qualify for the ITA National Indoor Tournament on Feb. 16-19 in New York City, N.Y. hosted by Columbia.
“I’m excited for the team,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “North Carolina is a very good team and well coached. I thought our guys came out and put a lot of pressure on UNC in doubles and then, of course, North Carolina fought back. It was great to escape with those doubles wins, which turned out to be the difference.
Everybody battled in singles but a great shout out to the seniors Heck and Petrov for staying tough when we were down 3-1. They were the ones that put Mroz into the winning position. I am so thrilled for Will to have that moment; he’s been working his tail off.”
Results
Doubles competition
1. Phillip Jordan/Benjamin Kittay (NC) vs. Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 5-4, unfinished
2. #4 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Will Jansen/Karl Poling (NC) 6-4
3. Mathis Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Peter Murphy/Patrick Schoen (NC) 6-3
Singles competition
1. Will Jansen (NC) def. #55 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-3, 6-3
2. #46 Hunter Heck (ILL) def. #50 Karl Poling (NC) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
3. Benjamin Kittay (NC) def. #17 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
4. Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Patrick Schoen (NC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
5. William Mroz (ILL) def. Phillip Jordan (NC) 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-3
6. #83 Will Peters (NC) def. Mathis Debru (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
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