Hokie ClubDURHAM, N.C. — The Virginia Tech men's tennis team fell in a tightly contested match to No. 29 Duke.
The Blue Devils took a quick lead in the doubles matches, grabbing wins on court one and court two.
Duke extended its lead to 3-0 after a win on court four by Garrett Johns over junior Carlo Donato and a win on court six by No. 101 Andrew Zhang against junior Chase Bernstine.
The Hokies did not give in, however, as freshman Matthis Ross stormed to a 6-4, 6-3 win against Omni Kumar on court five. Redshirt-senior Mitch Harper carried the momentum onto court two, defeating Edu Guell, 7-5, 6-4.
The comeback fell short when senior Henrik Korsgaard, in his first singles match since Feb. 2, fell in three sets on court one to No. 105 Nick Stachowiak, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Tech will be back on court on Sunday at 1 p.m. against No. 2 North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
SINGLES
1. #105 Nick Stachowiak (DU) def. #89 Henrik Korsgaard (VT) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
2. #81 Mitch Harper (VT) def. Edu Güell (DU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Spencer Furman (DU) vs. Alex Ribeiro (VT) 3-6, 6-4, 1-3, dnf
4. Garrett Johns (DU) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 6-2, 6-1
5. Matthis Ross (VT) def. Omni Kumar (DU) 6-4, 6-3
6. #101 Andrew Zhang (DU) def. Chase Bernstine (VT) 6-3, 6-2
DOUBLES
1. #5 Nick Stachowiak/Sean Sculley (DU) def. Henrik Korsgaard/Alex Ribeiro (VT) 6-1
2. Luca Keist/Spencer Furman (DU) def. Mitch Harper/Carlo Donato (VT) 6-1
3. Edu Güell/Garrett Johns (DU) vs. Ryan Kros/Matthis Ross (VT) 4-3, dnf