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CARY, N.C. The No. 1 Virginia men’s tennis team won its third consecutive ACC Tournament title and its fifth in the past six years by downing No. 20 Wake Forest 4-0 in Sunday’s final at the Cary Tennis Park. The Cavaliers won all three of its matches in the tournament by a 4-0 score, becoming the first team in ACC Tournament history to accomplish the feat.
“I am really proud of this championship,” said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “We lost three of the best players in the country last year in Somdev Devvarman, Treat Huey and Teddy Angelinos. It says a lot about the young men on this team that they were able to step up this season. They saw it as an opportunity to play higher in the lineup. They worked harder in the off-season and the results showed that. We have won five of the last six ACC Tournaments, but this one is really special.”
The Cavaliers took the 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. The Demon Deacons (20-9) took an early advantage as Cory Parr and Steve Forman bested Dominic Inglot (London, England) and Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) 8-5 at No. 1 in a battle of top-15 teams. Virginia drew even as Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India) topped Iain Atkinson and Carlos Salmon 8-6 at the No. 2 position. With the opening point on the line, Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) and Lee Singer (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) defeated Jonathan Wolff and David Hopkins 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.
Virginia started singles in strong fashion, winning all six first sets. Inglot, who was named tournament MVP, made the score 2-0 with his 6-4, 6-3 win over Parr at the top position. Courtney put the Cavaliers on the brink of the championship with his 6-3, 6-2 win over Atkinson at No. 5 singles. Singh clinched the title for Virginia as he completed a 6-2, 7-5 win over Forman at No. 2 singles.
“I thought we actually came out a little flat in doubles,” said Boland. “I told the team after the doubles that I was disappointed in their energy. I am not sure why that was since we prepared the same way each day. I think they realized that and came out in singles and got off to a great start and really got the momentum rolling.”
With the victory, the Cavaliers have won 45 consecutive matches against ACC opponents.
“The team is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” said Boland. “We have played a tough schedule and they have overcome some adversity. They know how to handle tournament play and I think we are in a good position as we head into the NCAA Tournament.”
The Cavaliers receive the ACC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the title. The field of 64 will be announced on April 28.
No. 1 Virginia 4, No. 20 Wake Forest 0
Doubles
1. #11 Parr/Forman (WF) def. #13 Inglot/Shabaz (UVa) 8-5
2. #4 Barrick/Singh (UVa) def. Atkinson/Salmon (WF) 8-6
3. Singer/Courtney (UVa) def. Wolff/Hopkins (WF) 8-3
Singles
1. #17 Dominic Inglot (UVa) def. #12 Cory Parr (WF) 6-4, 6-3
2. #27 Sanam Singh (UVa) def. Steve Forman (WF) 6-2, 7-5
3. #25 Michael Shabaz (UVa) led Jonathan Wolff (WF) 6-3, 3-5 DNF
4. #83 Houston Barrick (UVa) led David Hopkins (WF) 6-2, 0-3 DNF
5. Drew Courtney (UVa) def. Iain Atkinson (WF) 6-3, 6-2
6. #87 Lee Singer (UVa) led Jason Morganstern (WF) 6-3, 1-2 DNF
Order of Finish
Doubles: 1,2,3
Singles: 1,5,2