Feb. 17, 2018
SEATTLE, Wash. – The No. 6 Texas A&M men's tennis team advanced to the 2018 ITA Division I National Men's Team Indoor Championship semifinals after defeating No. 3 North Carolina Saturday evening in Seattle, Wash. The Aggies topped the Tar Heels, 4-3, at the Seattle Tennis Club to advance to the semifinals against No. 7 UCLA Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (CT).
No. 52 Arthur Rinderknech clinched the win for the Aggies, his second straight win in Seattle after topping No. 7 Johannes Ingildsen of Florida in the first round on Friday. On Saturday, the Paris, France native bested No. 57 Benjamin Sigouin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 on court two to send the Aggies through to the semifinals.
The Aggies faced an early deficit after dropping the doubles point to open the match. No. 11 William Blumberg and Robert Kelly bested Rinderknech and Patrick Kypson, 6-2, on the top doubles court followed by a 6-4 win by Mac Kiger and Simon Soendergaard over Valentin Vacherot and Barnaby Smith on the third doubles court.
No. 67 Jordi Arconada evened the match with a 7-6(6), 6-1 triumph over No. 81 Robert Kelly on court three. The Aggies took their first lead of the day as Juan Carlos Aguilar defeated Josh Peck, 6-2, 6-4, on court five. Blaine Boyden topped Smith, 6-3, 7-6(3) to even the match at two-all, then North Carolina regained the lead as No. 4 Blumberg defeated Kypson 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on court one.
With the Aggies needing to win both matches still on the court, they turned to cousins Vacherot and Rinderknech for the deciding points. No. 35 Vacherot came through with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 victory over No. 124 Soendergaard to set up Rinderknech for the heroic last match standing victory.
Texas A&M 4, North Carolina 3
Singles Competition
1. #4 William Blumberg (UNC) def. #84 Patrick Kypson (TAMU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. #52 Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. #57 Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
3. #67 Jordi Arconada (TAMU) def. #81 Robert Kelly (UNC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
4. #35 Valentin Vacherot (TAMU) def. #124 Simon Soendergaard (UNC) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
5. Juan Carlos Aguilar (TAMU) def. Josh Peck (UNC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. Barnaby Smith (TAMU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
Doubles Competition
1. #11 William Blumberg/Robert Kelly (UNC) def. Patrick Kypson/Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) 6-2
2. Anu Kodali/Benjamin Sigouin (UNC) vs. #6 Jordi Arconada/Juan Carlos Aguilar (TAMU) 3-5, unfinished
3. Mac Kiger/Simon Soendergaard (UNC) def. Valentin Vacherot/Barnaby Smith (TAMU) 6-4