Courtesy of UVA Media Relations
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The No. 1 Virginia men’s tennis team earned a 4-0 win over Princeton in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship game at Boar’s Head Sports Club on Sunday.
The win secures the Cavaliers (6-0) a spot in the field of 16 teams at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, taking place February 17-20 in Chicago.
Iñaki Montes and Ryan Goetz opened the game against the Tigers (1-3) with a comfortable 6-1 win in second place in doubles. Jeffrey von der Schulenburg and Alexander Kiefer secured the point with a 6:2 win in third place.
In singles, the Cavaliers’ victories in first, second and fourth followed in quick succession. Montes won in second place against Will Peters 6-2, 6-2 and finished a point ahead of Goetz, who won in fourth 6-2, 6-0. A minute later, Chris Rodesch won the match with a 6-2, 6-2 victory on the top court.
“First of all, congratulations to Princeton on a great game,” said head coach Andres Pedroso. “I thought they fought really hard and gave us some really good tests in certain places. I think this program has a really bright future. As for our boys, I thought they were absolute pros. They did really well and played the match together. It was a good step in the right direction.”
This was Virginia’s sixth win in six games this season and her 29th straight win dating back to last season.
Virginia has failed to exit ITA Kickoff Weekend only twice in the last 15 tournaments. The Cavaliers have won six ITA National Team Indoor Championships, including four straight from 2008 to 2011 and most recently in 2017 when the tournament was held in Charlottesville.
Virginia won 4-0 against Nevada (0-2) in the opening round on Saturday (results below).
#1 VIRGINIA 4, PRINCETON 0
singles
1. #27 Chris Rodesch (VA) def. Fnu Nidunjianzan (PRIN) 6-2, 6-2
2. #37 Inaki Montes (VA) def. Will Peters (PRIN) 6-2, 6-2
3. #45 Jeffrey von der Schulenburg (VA) vs. Sebastian Sec (PRIN) 6-0, 4-5, unfinished
4. Ryan Goetz (VA) defeated. Thomas Bosancic (PRIN) 6-2, 6-0
5. Mans Dahlberg (VA) vs. Ellis Short (PRIN) 7-6 (7-3), 0-2, unfinished
6. Alexander Kiefer (VA) vs. Alan Kam (PRIN) 3-6, 3-1, unfinished
double
1. Bar Botzer/Chris Rodesch (VA) vs. Fnu Nidunjianzan/Will Peters (PRIN) 4-3, unfinished
2. Inaki Montes/Ryan Goetz (VA) defined. Filippos Astreinidis/Ellis Short (PRIN) 6-1
3. Jeffrey von der Schulenburg/Alexander Kiefer (VA) def. Thomas Bosancic/Matthew Bosancic (PRIN) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2.3); Single (2,4,1)
#1 VIRGINIA 4, NEVADA 0 (SATURDAY)
singles
1. #27 Chris Rodesch (VA) def. Liborio, Pedro (NV) 6-0, 6-2
2. #37 Inaki Montes (VA) vs. N’Tcha, Delmas (NV) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
3. #45 Jeffrey von der Schulenburg (VA) def. Coupu, Matheo (NV) 6-1, 6-1
4. Ryan Goetz (VA) defeated. Kadri Hassani, Y (NA) 6-1, 6-1
5. Mans Dahlberg (VA) vs. Benn, Satchel (NV) 6-3, 5-0, unfinished
6. Alexander Kiefer (VA) vs. Zisswiller, Loris (NV) 6-3, 3-2, unfinished
double
1. Mans Dahlberg/Chris Rodesch (VA) v Coupu, Matheo/N’Tcha, Delmas (NV) 6-1
2. Inaki Montes/Ryan Goetz (VA) vs. Benn, Satchel/Zisswiller, Loris (NV) 5-1, unfinished
3. Jeffrey von der Schulenburg/Alexander Kiefer (VA) def. Liborio, Pedro/Kadri Hassani, Y (NA) 6-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (3.1); Single (3,4,1)
ABOUT ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND
- The ITA Kickoff Weekend is one of the spring season’s marquee events, bringing together the top 60 college men’s and women’s tennis teams for a weekend of intense competition. Hosted by 15 men’s and women’s programs from across the country, ITA Kickoff Weekend is a preseason test for teams against programs they don’t typically encounter.
- It’s not all about pride, much will be at stake during Kickoff Weekend as all 120 competing teams attempt to be just one of 15 teams of each gender to advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships
- The field for the ITA Kickoff Weekend is determined each season by the ITA Kickoff Weekend Draft, which occurs in the summer months following the dual-match season. The top 15 teams in the final ITA rankings for the season will automatically host both men’s and women’s teams
- In the draft, teams and coaches have the opportunity to choose where they want to play. Selection begins with team #16 and ends with team #60 (or until all 60 spots are filled).
- With four teams playing at each venue, the winning teams of the opening round will meet in the second round to determine who advances to the 2023 ITA National Team Indoor Championships