Duke Falls to No. 1 Virginia in ACC Championship Match

Sunday, April 25

Cary, N.C.

12:00 p.m.

Duke University

Virginia (Championship Game)

Cunha Advances to Singles Semifinals at ITA Indoors

Duke Falls to No. 1 Virginia in ACC Championship Match

4/25/2010 5:45:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

CARY, N.C. - No. 1 Virginia (35-1) was too much for No. 17 Duke (18-8) in the championship match of the ACC Tournament on Sunday as they earned a 4-2 victory at the Cary Tennis Park.

"We fought really hard today," said head coach Ramsey Smith. "Virginia won the title and we didn't give it to them. I was happy with how we bounced back after losing the doubles point and gave ourselves some chances. We played hard and left it on the court."

The Blue Devils did not make it easy for the Cavaliers in their fourth straight title. After losing the doubles point, Duke won three first sets in singles and five of the six matches ended up going three sets. The only match to finish in straight sets was at No. 3 between No. 105 Dylan Arnould and No. 55 Jarmere Jenkins. Jenkins gave Virginia a 2-0 lead by taking the match 6-4, 6-4.

The first Duke point came from Luke Marchese at the No. 6 spot. He improved to 4-1 against ranked opponents, knocking off No. 68 Lee Singer 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Marchese is now 21-7 overall with a 15-2 record in dual matches.

Freshman Henrique Cunha made the team score 2-2 with his sixth victory over a top 10 opponent. After losing the first set 6-4 to No. 9 Michael Shabaz, Cunha cruised to victory going 6-3 and 6-1 in the final two sets. Cunha has a 21-3 record against ranked opponents with wins over players ranked No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9 in the ITA singles rankings at the time of the match.

"I was up a break in the first set but lost my concentration a little bit and he played very well at the end of the set," said Cunha. "I started off really well in the second set by breaking him. I kept playing aggressive and tried to move him around a lot. I have had some tough matches but I think I have been mentally strong and able to win them."

Cunha has won 18 straight matches and is now 33-5 on the season. During his winning streak he went 8-0 in ACC play and 3-0 in the ACC Tournament for an undefeated 11-0 record in ACC dual matches. His 33 victories rank tied for third most by a freshman and tied for seventh most in a single season by a Duke player.

"It hasn't really sunk in what Cunha has been able to do this year," said Smith. "Some of us kind of take it for granted that he is winning every match. To do that at this level and in this league is an unbelievable accomplishment."

At the No. 5 spot, Torsten Wietoska trailed 5-2 in the third set but battled back to force a tiebreaker. He took an early 3-1 lead but No. 51 Drew Courtney rallied to win the tiebreaker on an overruled call. No. 107 Houston Barrick then finished off his three set win over Jared Pinsky at No. 5, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-1 to earn ACC Tournament MVP honors.

Duke will now wait for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Tuesday, May 4 to find out where their next match will take place.

Tennis Match Results
ACC Championship Match
Duke vs Virginia
April 25, 2010 at Cary, N.C.

#1 Virginia 4, #17 Duke 2

Doubles
1. #11 Drew Courtney/Michael Shabaz (UVA) vs. #1 Carleton/Cunha (Duke) 7-8 unfinished
2. #32 Houston Barrick/Sanam Singh (UVA) def. #77 Arnould/Holland (Duke) 8-4
3. Jarmere Jenkins/Lee Singer (UVA) def. Michel/Wietoska (Duke) 8-2

Singles
1. #7 Henrique Cunha (Duke) def. #9 Michael Shabaz (UVA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. #15 Sanam Singh (UVA) vs. #76 Reid Carleton (Duke) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 5-3, unfinished
3. #55 Jarmere Jenkins (UVA) def. #105 Dylan Arnould (Duke) 6-4, 6-4
4. #51 Drew Courtney (UVA) def. Torsten Wietoska (Duke) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
5. #107 Houston Barrick (UVA) def. Jared Pinsky (Duke) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-1
6. Luke Marchese (Duke) def. #68 Lee Singer (UVA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Match Notes:
Duke 18-8, 9-2 ACC; National ranking #17
Virginia 35-1, 11-0 ACC; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,6,1,4,5)