When going up against the No. 8 team in the nation, it's nearly a certainty that points will be hard to come by. With a singles lineup for the Cavaliers featuring four out of six players in the top 100 and two in the top 25, there didn’t look to be many openings for the ‘Canes. However, when the dust settled, the ‘Canes were able to grab two points but lost in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship, 2-4.
The ACC Tennis Championship has no easy matches. The mentality is to survive and advance. The ‘Canes did just that on a sunny afternoon in Cary, N.C. on Thursday.
The No. 13 Duke Blue Devils (17-5) coasted past the ‘Canes, 6-1, on Friday, and UNC (17-7) won a close but decisive victory, 4-2, to give the state of North Carolina a sweep over the Hurricanes, who played their last two matches of the season.
The No. 13 Miami women’s tennis team hit the road for their final two matches of the regular season this weekend, heading to Death Valley, South Carolina, and Atlanta. Against No. 37 Clemson on Friday, the ‘Canes picked up a 7-0 sweep, dropping only two sets the entire day. Against No. 20 Georgia Tech on Sunday, Miami fell short with a 4-3 loss.
It was an emotional weekend for the ‘Canes and fifth-year senior, Daevenia Achong, as she played her final two collegiate tennis matches in Coral Gables. In her five years at UM, she has won multiple academic awards, received ACC Player of the Week and reached the finals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament.
To say the Hurricanes play well at home would be an understatement. Miami men’s tennis went a perfect 11-0 this season in Coral Gables and closed out the year in dominant fashion on Senior Day. Dan Martin, Leo Bierbaum, Juan Martin Jalif and Franco Aubone made their final appearances for the ‘Canes faithful one to remember as they exhibited a tennis master class.
In a bitter rivalry match that is always circled on the calendar, Miami and Florida State both showed how badly they wanted to win on Wednesday evening in Tallahassee. It may have been the greatest match ever played between the two schools as four of the six matches went to third sets, with three of them decided by tiebreakers.
After losing a hard-fought battle to No. 2 Texas A&M last Sunday, the ‘Canes took their frustration out on the state of Virginia. In a battle of two top-15 teams, the No. 13 Hurricanes demolished the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers 6-1. Two days later, the Virginia Tech Hokies would feel the Hurricanes wrath as well, getting crushed 7-0.
Miami found itself in a catfight against the South Alabama Jaguars on Wednesday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. In a thrilling 4-3 contest, ‘Canes freshman Nacho Serra Sanchez sealed the match for the Hurricanes.
Miami men’s tennis was pitted against two of the top teams in Florida in back-to-back days. This proved to be no issue as the ‘Canes dispatched No. 23 Central Florida (UCF), 4-0, and No. 40 Florida State (FSU), 5-2, on the road.