After being on the road for the past four matches, NC State men’s tennis finished its season home for senior day defeating Miami 4-1 at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center Friday night.
The No. 22 Wolfpack (17-9, 8-4 ACC) started off strong against the No. 25 Hurricanes (16-8, 7-4 ACC) in the doubles matches, winning the first two games for the first point of the game. The team continued its performance during the singles matches, only obtaining one loss out of four singles matches before the match was called in the Pack’s favor for the team’s eighth conference win this season, the most in program history.
“Wow, what a senior day here at NC State,” said head coach Kyle Spencer. “So proud of all the seniors that eclipsed the eight-win mark in the ACC, first time ever. Couldn’t be more proud.”
Teammates freshman Yannai Barkai and sophomore Tadas Babelis started their doubles match in a close game. The Hurricanes were able to tie the set until Barkai and Babelis pulled ahead 3-2 and continued strong, only giving up one more game before taking the set 6-3.
Seniors Igor and Ivan Saveljic held strong throughout their doubles match, keeping the lead 5-2 after going on a hot streak coming back from being down 1-0. The set was abandoned as the Pack had won the first two doubles matches.
Doubles team No. 44 junior Alexis Galarneau and redshirt senior Michael Ogden took their match by storm, never allowing their opponents a chance to catch up, 6-0.
“First off, it was a great win for the Pack today on senior day,” Ogden said. “Everybody stepped up their game, it was good to end the regular season with a win. It’s an emotional day, it’s been a pleasure repping the Pack for the last four years. Can’t believe it’s over but I’m excited for what we’ve done this season and for what’s ahead the rest of the season and for the future of the program is heading.”
The Wolfpack moved onto singles with a 1-0 advantage over the Hurricanes.
Igor Saveljic dominated Miami’s redshirt junior Dane Dunlap in the first set, 6-0. Igor Saveljic trailed in the beginning of the second set but quickly turned it around 2-1. Only giving up one more game before taking the second set 6-2, Igor Saveljic not only won the Pack its second point but finished his senior season with a victory.
The Wolfpack kept the Hurricanes scoreless as No. 27 Galarneau won both his sets to lead the Pack 3-0. In both sets, Galarneau trailed behind 1-0 but managed to turn it around and take the first set 6-2 and the second set 6-3.
Babelis had an easy beginning to his singles match, leading 3-0 but Miami’s freshman Franco Aubone started to catch up but not before Babelis won 6-3. Aubone started off strong in the second set, leaving Babelis trailing behind. Babelis pulled through towards the end for a close 6-4 win.
Barkai struggled in the first set against Miami’s No. 81 sophomore Bojan Jankulovski, losing 6-0. The second set appeared to be no better as Barkai was trailing 4-0. In an attempt to come back, Barkai managed to score three games but the damage had already been done as Jankulovski was far enough ahead and Barkai lost the second set 6-3.
The Wolfpack will be moving into its postseason next Friday for the ACC Championship in Cary, North Carolina.
“I am looking forward to the NCAA tournament and the ACC tournament,” Ivan Saveljic said. “I think we are in a good position to make the best results so far in the history of NC State and I’m very excited for it.”
Spencer had a similar sentiment as Ivan Saveljic about the upcoming tournament.
“Really excited for where the program is,” Spencer said. “Excited to get the double-bye in the ACC tournament so we won’t be playing until next Friday but wow what a way to end the regular season here at home with a great crowd. Look forward to going to Cary for ACCs and then testing our stamina and will against the best in the conference.”
