CHAPEL HILL NC State’s Kyle Spencer wasn’t worried about how his team would respond following last weekend’s loss to Louisville.
Knowing how tough the ACC can be, Spencer knew the most important thing was to stay the course heading into Friday’s matchup with No. 13 UNC.
The Wolfpack didn’t show any signs of a hangover from the Louisville match, knocking off the Tar Heels, 4-1, to remain in the ACC hunt.
NC State improves to 6-1 in league play, one spot behind undefeated Virginia, who comes to Raleigh next weekend. The win snapped a two-game losing streak to UNC. It was the first win over a team inside the top 20 this season. The Pack was 0-3 versus teams in the top 20 heading into Friday’s showdown.
It’s the highest ranked North Carolina team NC State has knocked off since 2007, when the Heels were ranked No. 6 in the nation. The Pack won 4-0 in the NCAA tournament.
Doubles (NC State 1, UNC 0)
UNC took the first doubles match, with Karl Poling and Will Jansen defeating Braden Shick and Fons Van Sambeek, 6-1.
NC State needed its two ranked doubles teams to come through for the point and they did just that. No. 40 Rafa Izquierdo Luque and Joe Wayand and No. 27 Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli came through in the clutch to secure the doubles point.
Izquierdo Luque and Wayand jumped out to a 5-2 lead, eventually securing the 6-3 win over No. 32 Brian Cernoch and Benjamin Kittay.
That put all eyes on center court as Catry and Staeheli took on No. 19 Ryan Seggerman and Casey Kania. Catry and Staeheli trailed late, 5-4, before going on a run for the 7-5 win. It was the third win this season over a top-20 team. It was the first win over a ranked opponent this season for Izquierdo Luque and Wayand.
Singles (NC State 3, UNC 1)
After the doubles point was secured, the game was delayed because of rain shortly after singles play started.
NC State never rattled, even after UNC took some early leads.
The Heels tied the match at one when Ryan Seggerman got the first singles win, knocking off Rafa Izquierdo Luque. There would be no quit in the Pack, though. NC State took the next three matches to pull off the upset win.
Catry picked up the first win for the Pack, knocking off Karl Poling 6-4, 6-3. It was his second straight win over a ranked opponent. Shortly after Catry’s win, Fons…
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