Virginia men’s tennis advances to the NCAA Quarterfinals after defeating South Carolina

The No. 7 Virginia males’s tennis staff (25-5, 12-0 ACC) superior to its fifteenth quarterfinal within the final 17 NCAA Championships with a 4-0 victory over No. 10 South Carolina (23-7, 10-2 SEC) Friday. The Cavaliers have now gained all of their NCAA Championship matches this 12 months with the identical rating of 4-0 and can play No. 2 Florida (26-2, 12-0 SEC) within the quarterfinal.

Senior Gianni Ross and sophomore Jeffrey von der Schulenberg began doubles off with a 6-4 win, however graduate pupil Bar Botzer and sophomore Chris Rodesch fell on the highest court docket 6-3 because the Gamecocks tied up the doubles level. Nonetheless, Virginia ultimately prevailed as sophomore Iñaki Montes de la Torre and senior Ryan Goetz claimed a 6-4 victory on court docket two, clinching the doubles level for the Cavaliers.

Now with a 1-0 lead within the match, Virginia was simply starting singles play open air when a rainstorm interrupted the match. After being moved to the indoor courts and enduring a delay within the match, the Cavaliers confirmed no lack of focus or momentum as they picked up three singles wins to shut out the victory. Coach Andres Pedroso was more than happy along with his staff’s capacity to refocus and readjust.

“There have been some ups and downs. Going from open air to indoors is at all times difficult, however our guys have been complete professionals on the market,” Pedroso mentioned. “So I’m pleased with them. We competed till the tip and performed strong. No matter got here our approach, we have been prepared for.”

As soon as indoors, Ross was the primary to win his matchup, incomes a 6-4, 7-5 victory on court docket 5. He was adopted by Goetz who, having already begun his first set open air earlier than play was suspended, was capable of end off a 6-4, 6-1 win on court docket 4.

Botzer earned the fourth level for Virginia to ship the staff to the quarterfinals. After dropping the primary set of his matchup on court docket six, he was capable of battle again for the following two and safe the win for the Cavaliers with a rating of 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. After a really profitable undergraduate profession at Wake Forest, Botzer is happy to have the ability to have an effect on his new staff’s success.

“Taking part in at [court] six and successful the purpose is strictly the identical level as successful at [court] one, so I’m simply joyful that I’m capable of assist the staff lastly,” Botzer mentioned. “I felt prefer it was at instances actually troublesome for me to assist the staff, particularly with wins, however I’ve at all times been taking part in my finest tennis in Could, and I hope that for this 12 months as effectively.”

Subsequent up, Virginia can have one in all its most troublesome exams of the season up to now, as they match up with the Gators for a visit to the semifinals. Earlier this season, the Cavaliers misplaced to Florida by a rating of 4-2. Each groups have but to have some extent scored on them in these NCAA Championships and that is setting as much as be a heavyweight battle between these two convention champions.

The Cavaliers will look to get their revenge on the Gators Thursday on the Khan Outside Tennis Advanced in Champaign, Unwell. A beginning time for the match has but to be introduced.