NC State men's tennis, ranked No. 49 nationally, fell in a tight match to No. 1 Virginia on Friday in Charlottesville, Va. Jay Weinacker knocked off the nation's No. 9 player in singles, the highest ranked opponent defeated in his career. It was Weinacker's team-leading 16th win of the spring, tied with Christian Welte - who also won against a ranked opponent - against the Cavaliers.
The undefeated Cavaliers have the No. 1 singles player and the No. 1 doubles combo in the nation in addition to its top spot in the team standings.
The match got started with three extremely tight doubles contests, as NC State head coach Jon Choboy switched up his doubles lineup. It nearly paid off, with James McGee and Welte falling to No. 1 Devvarman/Huey at the top spot in doubes, 8-6. Minutes later Nick Cavaday and David Chermak lost, 9-7 at No. 2, to give the point to the Cavs. Weinacker and Derek Stephens lost in a tiebreak, 9-8 (7) in the finals doubles match.
Singles was closer than perhaps the top-ranked Cavaliers would have hoped, with two of the six matches going three sets. In addition, Stephens narrowly lost at No. 5 singles, 7-5, 7-6 (6). Stephens loss clinched the match for Virginia.
NC State did tie things up early on, as Weinacker dismantled No. 9 Dominic Inglot at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-4, right out of the gate.
The Cavs bounced right back with McGee, ranked #64 nationally, falling to No. 1 - and undefeated on the season - Somdev Devvarman in straights, 6-3, 6-2.
Chermak lost at No. 6 to the nation's No. 102-ranked player, 6-0, 6-3, before Stephen's loss to Michael Shabaz gave the Cavs the match and a 4-1 lead.
Welte won moments later over No. 125 Sanam Singh in a third-set tiebreak, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (0).
Cavaday's three-set loss to #31 Treat Huey, also in a third-set tiebreak, ended the match, despite Cavaday winning the first set, 6-4. He lost, 6-2, 7-6 (2), in the final set.
NC State (11-12, 4-6 ACC) will now travel to No. 29 Virginia Tech on Sunday to conclude the regular season.
