North Carolina State University Athletics
M. Tennis Falls to #1 Virginia in Quarterfinals of ACCs
4/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The NC State men's tennis team (12-14, 4-7 ACC) fell in another close contest, this time dropping a 4-1 decision to the hands of the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers (26-0, 11-0 ACC) in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championships. The match ended with two of the final three matches in third sets before the nation's top-player defeated the Wolfpack's James McGee to clinch the match for the Cavs.
"We've been competing like that all of last year, and all of this year because that's just the identity of the team," head coach Jon Choboy. "We are going to show up to play in every match and we had some more opportunities and I felt we could have done a little bit more. Obviously Virginia is a pretty good team, so they take some of those oppourtunites away from you and the ones you do get you have to capitalize on."
The Wolfpack fell behind early with a loss at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, by a score of 8-3 and 8-4, respectively. At No. 1, the Wolfpack duo of McGee and Christian Welte fell to the nation's top-ranked doubles pair, Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey.
Early on it looked as if the top-ranked Cavs would cruise in singles, but the resilient bunch in the red and white stayed tough to stay in the match.
Virginia would win the first set in four of the six matches, and would push their lead to 2-0 with David Chermak falling, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 6 singles.
The Pack would bounce right back as, as No. 114 Jay Weinacker took out Sanam Singh in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to make the score 2-1 Virginia.
Derek Stephens would drop his match at No. 5 singles after getting broken late in the second set. He would fall to Ted Angelinos, 6-3, 6-2, for a 3-1 lead and put all of the pressure on Wolfpack senior Nick Cavaday to win his second set and keep the match going.
And Cavaday did rally from a set down at No. 2 singles against the nation's 29th-ranked player, Huey, to keep the Wolfpack's hopes alive. Huey took the first set, 6-2, and Cavaday trailed 1-4 early in the second set. Cavaday then reeled off three straight games to get back on serve, then broke for a 6-5 lead. With the chance to push his match to a decider, Cavaday was the epitome of cool under pressure as he served out the second set.
Welte won his first set, 6-3, before Michael Shabaz answered with a 6-3 win in the second frame. Showing determination that has served him so well in his career so far at NC State, Welte jumped out to an early lead in the third set.
McGee, ranked #56 nationally, had his chances at the top spot in the lineup against undefeated and top-ranked Somdev Devvarman. Serving at 2-3 in the first set, McGee was broken and lost the opening set, 6-3. Poised and calm, the sophomore won three straight games out of the chute to take an early lead in the second set before Devvarman won the next five games to take a commanding 5-3 lead.
Facing match point on his serve, McGee fought it off and then held serve just as Weinacker finished his match. McGee used the energy of that win to propel him to take the first of three straight games and a 6-5 lead. Devvarman held serve to force a tiebreak, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. McGee again rallied back, winning three of the next four points to pull within 3-4. Devvarman won three of the final four to clinch the match for the Cavaliers.
Welte was up 3-0 in the third set and Cavaday trailed 2-0 in his third set when Devvarman clinched the match for the defending ACC Champion Cavaliers.
When asked about the impact of having Nick Cavaday as his teammate, Welte commented,"Nick has been my best friend on and off the court since I have been here. Whenever there has been a problem or situation that I needed help on in college he has always seemed to have an answer for me. The character that he displays on a daily basis is what our program is made of. I am really lucky to be apart as the same team with Nick."
The NC State men's tennis team, currently ranked No. 50, will await a decision on the NCAA selection committee to determine their possible future and a chance at a repeat trip to the Elite 8.
"We've been competing like that all of last year, and all of this year because that's just the identity of the team," head coach Jon Choboy. "We are going to show up to play in every match and we had some more opportunities and I felt we could have done a little bit more. Obviously Virginia is a pretty good team, so they take some of those oppourtunites away from you and the ones you do get you have to capitalize on."
The Wolfpack fell behind early with a loss at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, by a score of 8-3 and 8-4, respectively. At No. 1, the Wolfpack duo of McGee and Christian Welte fell to the nation's top-ranked doubles pair, Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey.
Early on it looked as if the top-ranked Cavs would cruise in singles, but the resilient bunch in the red and white stayed tough to stay in the match.
Virginia would win the first set in four of the six matches, and would push their lead to 2-0 with David Chermak falling, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 6 singles.
The Pack would bounce right back as, as No. 114 Jay Weinacker took out Sanam Singh in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to make the score 2-1 Virginia.
Derek Stephens would drop his match at No. 5 singles after getting broken late in the second set. He would fall to Ted Angelinos, 6-3, 6-2, for a 3-1 lead and put all of the pressure on Wolfpack senior Nick Cavaday to win his second set and keep the match going.
And Cavaday did rally from a set down at No. 2 singles against the nation's 29th-ranked player, Huey, to keep the Wolfpack's hopes alive. Huey took the first set, 6-2, and Cavaday trailed 1-4 early in the second set. Cavaday then reeled off three straight games to get back on serve, then broke for a 6-5 lead. With the chance to push his match to a decider, Cavaday was the epitome of cool under pressure as he served out the second set.
Welte won his first set, 6-3, before Michael Shabaz answered with a 6-3 win in the second frame. Showing determination that has served him so well in his career so far at NC State, Welte jumped out to an early lead in the third set.
McGee, ranked #56 nationally, had his chances at the top spot in the lineup against undefeated and top-ranked Somdev Devvarman. Serving at 2-3 in the first set, McGee was broken and lost the opening set, 6-3. Poised and calm, the sophomore won three straight games out of the chute to take an early lead in the second set before Devvarman won the next five games to take a commanding 5-3 lead.
Facing match point on his serve, McGee fought it off and then held serve just as Weinacker finished his match. McGee used the energy of that win to propel him to take the first of three straight games and a 6-5 lead. Devvarman held serve to force a tiebreak, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. McGee again rallied back, winning three of the next four points to pull within 3-4. Devvarman won three of the final four to clinch the match for the Cavaliers.
Welte was up 3-0 in the third set and Cavaday trailed 2-0 in his third set when Devvarman clinched the match for the defending ACC Champion Cavaliers.
When asked about the impact of having Nick Cavaday as his teammate, Welte commented,"Nick has been my best friend on and off the court since I have been here. Whenever there has been a problem or situation that I needed help on in college he has always seemed to have an answer for me. The character that he displays on a daily basis is what our program is made of. I am really lucky to be apart as the same team with Nick."
The NC State men's tennis team, currently ranked No. 50, will await a decision on the NCAA selection committee to determine their possible future and a chance at a repeat trip to the Elite 8.
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