Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech lost its first home match of the year, 4-3, Friday afternoon to No. 39 North Carolina at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center. North Carolina improved to 14-6 and 3-4 in the ACC while Tech fell to 11-5 and 4-3 in the conference.

Tech, ranked No. 26 nationally, saw its home record fall to 7-1 with the narrow loss. The Tar Heels won two of the three doubles matches to capture the crucial doubles point then split the six singles contests to take the match. Tech was playing its first match without Yoann Re (Jr., Verdun, Quebec, Canada), ranked No. 56 nationally, who was injured last week at Miami.

In singles, Luka Somen (Fr., Karlovac, Croatia) won his No. 3 match, 6-3, 6-4, over Andrew Crone and Brandon Corace (Sr., Naples, Fla.) took the No. 5 contest, 6-1, 6-4, against Luke Mojica. The Hokies other singles win occurred at No 6 as Patrick Daciek (Fr., Severna Park, Md.) won a thrilling 6-2, 0-6, 7-6, match versus Zach Hunter.

Nicolas Delgado de Robles (Sr., Madrid, Spain) fell 6-1, 6-2, at No. 1 against 35^th-ranked Clay Donato while Pedro Graber (Jr., Santiago, Chile) dropped his No. 2 match, 6-7. 6-4, 6-4, to Taylor Fogleman. In the remaining contest, Sebastien Jacques (So., Magog, Quebec, Canada) lost 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, at No. 4 against Brennan Boyajian.

In doubles, Corace/Graber defeated Boyajian/Hunter in the No. 3 match, 8-5, and the Tar Heels evened the competition as Delgado de Robles/Somen lost, 8-5, at No. 1 to Donato/Fogleman. UNC captured the point as Daciek/Jacques dropped the No. 2 match, 8-6, to Crone/Alex Rafiee.

Tech plays the final home match of the season on Sunday, Apr. 5, at 1 p.m. against No. 25 Duke. The Sunday contest versus the Blue Devils is Faculty & Staff day where all fans can register to win a free VT polo, VT fleece as well as gift certificates to local area restaurants. Also, the first 100 fans on Sunday will receive a free VT thermal mug.

Tech seniors Brandon Corace, Nicolas Delgado de Robles and Preston Lemon will be honored prior to Sunday’s match against the Blue Devils.

#39 North Carolina 4, #26 Virginia Tech 3

Singles

No. 1 #35 Clay Donato (UNC) def. Nicolas Delgado de Robles (VT) 6-1, 6-2

No. 2 .Taylor Fogleman (UNC) def. Pedro Graber (VT) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4

No. 3 Luka Somen (VT) def. Andrew Crone (UNC) 6-3, 6-4

No. 4 Brennan Boyajian (UNC) def. Sebastien Jacques (VT) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

No. 5 Brandon Corace (VT) def. Luke Mojica (UNC) 6-1, 6-4

No. 6 Patrick Daciek (VT) def. Zach Hunter (UNC) 6-2, 0-6, 7-6

Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 6, 4, 2*

Doubles

No. 1 Donato/Fogleman (UNC) def. Delgado de Robles/Somen (VT) 8-5

No. 2 Crone/Alex Rafiee (UNC) def. Daciek/Jacques (VT) 8-6

No. 3 Corace/Graber (VT) def. Boyajian/Hunter (UNC) 8-5

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*

For updates on Virginia Tech men's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MTennis).