Illinois defeated North Carolina 4-1 in men’s tennis on Sunday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center. The win improves Illinois’ record to 5-3, although North Carolina falls to 7-3.
Doubles Decided the Momentum
Illinois secured the doubles point, a crucial start in collegiate tennis. The Fighting Illini won at No. 2 doubles with the pairing of Kenta Miyoshi and William Mroz defeating Roan Jones and Anthony Wright, 6-2. North Carolina’s Ian Mayew and Kase Schinnerer responded with a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles over Zach Viiala and Sasha Colleu. The doubles point ultimately came down to No. 1 doubles, where Illinois’ Tyler Bowers and Gabriel Debru won a tiebreaker, 7-4, over Chris Xu and Nick Mangiapane.
Singles Play Seals the Victory
Gabriel Debru of Illinois quickly extended the lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles. North Carolina’s Roan Jones, ranked #115, then secured a win over #22 Kenta Miyoshi, 6-4, 6-2. Zach Viiala put Illinois ahead 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kase Schinnerer at No. 5 singles. William Mroz clinched the team victory for Illinois with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Ian Mayew.
Matches at No. 4 and No. 6 singles were unfinished when Illinois reached the clinching four points. Constantinos Djakouris was leading for North Carolina at No. 4, while Anthony Wright was ahead at No. 6.
Up Next
North Carolina will begin its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule next weekend, hosting Stanford on Friday and Cal on Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the match?
Illinois defeated North Carolina 4-1.
Who clinched the victory for Illinois?
William Mroz clinched the victory for Illinois with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Ian Mayew.
What is next for North Carolina?
North Carolina will host Stanford and Cal next weekend to begin Atlantic Coast Conference play.
How will North Carolina adjust its strategy as it enters conference play?
