The No. 16 NC State men's tennis team (4-4, 2-1 ACC) fell to fourth-ranked Virginia on Friday, dropping the match by a score of 5-2. The loss marks NC State's first conference defeat of the season.
DOUBLES
Doubles action was tight across all three courts, but ultimately it was the Cavaliers who claimed the point.
Jeffrey van der Schulenberg and Inaki Montes were the first to get a win in doubles action, defeating Yannai Barkai and Collin Shick 6-3.
No. 23 Alexis Galarneau and Robert Turzak were knotted up in a close one on court two, leading Ryan Goetz and Chris Rodesch, 5-4, when the Cavaliers duo of Carl Soderlund and William Woodall defeated Tadas Babelis and Robin Catry 6-4.
SINGLES
NC State and Virginia split first sets evenly, as Galarneau, Babelis and Rocens each took theirs while Izquierdo Luque, Catry and Turzak fell.
Three of the first four singles courts went to third sets, and the lone straight-set NC State victory came when seventh-ranked Galarneau took down No. 29 Soderlund 6-2, 7-5.
The Cavaliers claimed the following two singles matches, first with Rodesch's 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Catry. Van der Schulenberg's 6-1, 5-7, 2-1 win by retirement over Rafa Izquierdo Luque put Virginia one away from clinching.
Goetz defeated Martins Rocens in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, before Turzak claimed the Wolfpack's second singles win of the day. Turzak defeated Alexander Kiefer 6-3, 5-7, 1-0(6).
STRAIGHT FROM THE PACK: HEAD COACH KYLE SPENCER
"Tough one for the guys today - Virginia was too good in some of the spots," said head coach Kyle Spencer. "There were a lot of battles. I thought doubles was a little bit of a momentum swing, as it usually is, but to the guys' credit they came out and we had Alexis Galarneau do a fantastic job against one of the nation's best players to get us a point.
"Tadas Babelis had match point at number three, and it was just a huge battle. There were three sets at number three, three sets at number two and three sets at number four. I feel like we were in control at number six as well. Credit to Virginia for getting the win.
"On Sunday we have another great battle against Virginia Tech outdoors - the weather's going to be great. Go Pack!"
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RESULTS
No. 16 NC State 2, No. 4 Virginia 5
Doubles
Order of finish (3,1)
Carl Soderlund/William Woodall (Virginia) def. Tadas Babelis/Robin Catry (NC State) 6-4
#23 Alexis Galarneau/Robert Turzak (NC State) vs. Ryan Goetz/Chris Rodesch (Virginia) 5-4, unfinished
Jeffrey van der Schulenberg/Inaki Montes (Virginia) def. Yannai Barkai/Collin Shick (NC State) 6-3
Singles
Order of finish: (1,4,2,3,5,6)
#7 Alexis Galarneau def. #29 Carl Soderlund 6-2, 7-5
#105 Jeffrey von der Schulenberg (Virginia) def. Rafa Izquierdo Luque (NC State) 6-1, 5-7, 2-1, retired
Inaki Montes (Virginia) def. #95 Tadas Babelis (NC State) 6-7(4), 6-0, 7-6(3)
Chris Rodesch (Virginia) def. Robin Catry (NC State) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Ryan Goetz (Virginia) def. Martins Rocens (NC State) 7-5, 6-4
Robert Turzak (NC State) def. Alexander Kiefer (Virginia) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0(6)
#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
UP NEXT
NC State remains in Raleigh as it welcomes Virginia Tech for a 12 p.m. matchup Sunday, Feb. 28