Irish Fall to Top-Ranked Tar Heels In Hard-Fought Battle

NOTRE DAME, Indiana — The Notre Dame Men’s Tennis team fell to top-ranked North Carolina, 4-3, in a hard-fought battle Sunday afternoon inside the Eck Pavilion.

The Irish started strong in doubles with No. 19 Axel Nefve and Tristan McCormick earning a top-five victory over No. 5 Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard in a 6-3 win. Brandon Ancona and William Howells followed strong, defeating Adam Neff and Brian Cernoch, 7-5, securing the first point of the match for the Irish.

In singles play, the Irish again started strong, securing the first singles point. On court one, Axel Nefve defeated ranked Benjamin Sigouin in a quick 6-3, 6-1 win. The Irish and Tar Heels were soon tied at two, after Richard Ciamarra fell to ranked Tar Heel Rinky Hijikata, 5-7, 1-6, and Irish Tristan McCormick fell to Brian Cernoch 4-6, 4-6. The Tar Heels pulled away after Connor Fu fell to Mac Kiger 4-6, 4-6. 

Up 3-2, the Irish and Tar Heels battled to the finish, though falling short in a nail-biter of a finish. On court six, Brandon Ancona defeated Brandon Zapp 6-3 in the first set. It was back and forth in the final set, though Ancona would fall, 7-5. 

North Carolina 4, Notre Dame Men’s Tennis 2 

Singles competition 

1. #55 Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. #6 Richard Ciamarra (NDMTEN) 7-5, 6-1 
2. Axel Nefve (NDMTEN) def. #41 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 6-3, 6-1 
3. Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Tristan McCormick (NDMTEN) 6-4, 6-4 
4. #100 Josh Peck (NC) vs. Matthew Che (NDMTEN) no result 
5. Mac Kiger (NC) def. Connor Fu (NDMTEN) 6-4, 6-4 
6. Logan Zapp (NC) def. Brandon Ancona (NDMTEN) 7-6, 6-3 

Doubles competition 

1. #19 Axel Nefve/Tristan McCormick (NDMTEN) def. #5 Simon Soendergaard/Mac Kiger (NC) 6-3 
2. Richard Ciamarra/Matt Gamble (NDMTEN) vs. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 5-5, unfinished 
3. Brandon Ancona/William Howells (NDMTEN) def. Adam Neff/Brian Cernoch (NC) 7-5

Next Up

The Irish face Marquette at home on March 19th at 3:30 p.m. ET before traveling to Florida State the next week on March 26th.

While fans are unable to attend matches at the Eck Tennis Pavilion due to health and safety protocol, live stats are available at UND.com/mediastats and live streaming is available at UND.com/tennisstream.

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