Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech opens ACC play this weekend by traveling south for two matches against ranked foes, No. 27 North Carolina and No. 40 Duke.
WEEKEND DETAILS
Opponent: No. 27 North Carolina
Date/Time: Friday, March 4 | 3 p.m.
Location: Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Opponent: No. 40 Duke
Date/Time: Sunday, March 6 | 2 p.m.
Location: Ambler Tennis Stadium (Durham, N.C.)
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HOKIES
Virginia Tech has lost three straight matches, although its last two defeats have come by narrow one-point margins. No. 68 Ryan Fishback and Alberto Orso picked up wins in the matches against both Vanderbilt and No. 45 Old Dominion. Both of Fishback's wins were against ranked opponents – No. 26 George Harwell (Vandy) and No. 60 Francois Le Tallec (ODU).
Fishback and Jordan Chrysostom, the No. 33 duo in the country, left their last match unfinished against Old Dominion, but will be looking to get back into the win column with a potential top-5 doubled opponent on deck at North Carolina.
TAR HEELS
North Carolina has dropped its last three contests, although all three losses have been against ranked competition (Illinois, NC State and Columbia).
The Tar Heels have two ranked doubles pairs in their lineup – No. 4 Brian Cerncoh and Mac Kiger and No. 25 Casey Kania and Logan Zapp. In singles, Cernoch is ranked No. 73. Through eight matches at home, North Carolina is 5-3.
BLUE DEVILS
In contrast to the sputtering Tar Heels, Duke has won its last three, including one against an Illinois team that North Carolina fell to. Before facing Tech on Sunday, the Blue Devils will play No. 18 Virginia on Friday.
Duke has two ranked pieces in its squad – No. 89 Faris Kahn and No. 118 Garrett Johns.
The Blue Devil's lone home loss came at the hands of No. 10 Kentucky on Feb. 13, 4-2.