Duke falls to UNC in NCAA Tennis Tournament second round

Posted Sunday, May 11, 2008

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Chapel Hill, N.C. - No. 43 Duke and No. 12 North Carolina met for the first time ever in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. with the host Tar Heels edging the Blue Devils 4-2 to advance to the round of 16.

The two squads went back-and-forth throughout the match with North Carolina putting the first point on the board with wins at the No. 1 and 2 doubles spots. No. 6 Taylor Fogleman and Chris Kearney edged No. 33 David Goulet and Christopher Price in a tiebreaker 9-8 (2) to take the point.

Duke was strong at the top of the order in the second round match with both Goulet and Reid Carleton earning victories to put the Blue Devils on top 2-1. Goulet, ranked No. 55 in the ITA singles rankings, made quick work of No. 115 Benjamin Carlotti in the top spot with a 6-2, 6-2 win. He improved to 18-11 on the season and claimed his sixth victory over a ranked opponent. No. 78 Carleton also defeated his sixth ranked opponent with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 73 Stefan Hardy in the No. 2 spot. Carleton, a freshman from Naples, Fla., finished the year as the team leader with a 27-9 overall record. He won his final six singles matches.

The Tar Heels fought back with victories at the final three spots to win the match. Clay Donato defeated Dylan Arnould in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 4 spot. Duke's Alain Michel led in the second set, 5-2, but Will Plyler battled back and would eventually win a tiebreaker for a straight-set 6-0, 7-6 (8-6) victory. UNC's Taylor Fogleman also closed out his match with a tiebreaker win, defeating Alex Stone 6-2, 7-6 (3) to clinch the match.

Duke ends the 2007-08 season with an 11-14 overall record. North Carolina improves to 21-5 with the victory and moves on in the NCAA Tournament.

Goulet will compete in the NCAA singles championships next week at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla.

Tennis Match Results

Duke University vs North Carolina

May 11, 2008 at Chapel Hill, N.C.

NCAA Tournament Second Round

#12 North Carolina 4, #43 Duke University 2

Singles

1. #55 David Goulet (DU) def. #115 Benjamin Carlotti (UNC) 6-2, 6-2

2. #78 Reid Carleton (DU) def. #73 Stefan Hardy (UNC) 6-2, 6-4

3. #91 Chris Kearney (UNC) vs. Kiril Dimitrov (DU) 6-7 (8-10), 6-1, 1-0, unfinished

4. Clay Donato (UNC) def. Dylan Arnould (DU) 6-2, 6-4