Doubly Satisfying

Miami’s tennis program enjoyed a sensational Sunday, as the men’s team knocked off highly-touted North Carolina and the women handily defeated Clemson at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

The men’s squad cruised to a convincing 4-1 upset of No. 8 North Carolina to improve to 13-3, 3-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes swept the singles matches but lost the doubles point, the lone highlight for the Tar Heels (18-2, 3-2).

Top Hurricane singles player Luigi D’Agord, a junior who is ranked seventh in the nation, set the tone by sweeping No. 10 Raian Luchici 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in straight sets. D’Agord teamed with Daniel Vallverdu to earn Miami’s only doubles victory, 8-3, over Luchici and Brad Pomeroy. Vallverdu coasted past Derek Porter for a 6-1, 6-2 win in second singles action.

Tim Krebs had the toughest match of the day, outlasting Pomeroy in three sets. After taking the first set 6-3, Krebs lost the second by the same score, but recovered to win the final set 6-4. Eric Hechtman also went the distance at No. 4 singles, beating Benjamin Carlotti 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

With the victory already clinched, John Hoyes and Vivek Subramanian were not able to complete their fifth and sixth singles matches, but both had first-set leads when play was stopped.

The men’s team is off until Friday, when it takes on Virginia in Charlottesville at 3 p.m.

The No. 5 women’s team also steamrolled its way to victory over ACC-foe Clemson on Sunday, winning 6-1. After losing for the first time in 11 matches on Friday, the Hurricanes (15-4, 5-2) took five of six singles contests against the Tigers (12-5, 5-2).

Sophomore Audra Cohen, the No. 3 player in collegiate tennis, won her 22nd straight match, drubbing Daniela Alvarez 6-1, 6-0 in first singles competition.

Senior Melissa Applebaum scored an upset win over No. 45 Frederica van Adrichem in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Sophomore Patricia Starzyk preserved the victory at fourth singles by beating Maria Brito 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

Audrey Banada and Caren Seenauth also earned singles wins for the Hurricanes, who return to action on Saturday at noon against Virginia Tech.

Eric Kalis can be contacted at e.kalis@umiami.edu.