BLACKSBURG – No. 59 Virginia Tech (7-2, 0-1) falls in ACC opener to No. 22 NC State (8-3, 1-0), despite strong performances from the Hokies.
The match would get off to a highly-contested start, as Alex Ix and Michael Shepheard would battle on court three, falling 5-7 to Braden Shick and Fons Van Sambeek. The pairing of Ryan Fishback and Maxime St. Hilaire battled on court one against Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli, but would also fall 5-7. The most exhilarating action of doubles play would come on court two, as Alberto Orso and Matt Harper held momentum in a tight 6-6 match against the No. 22 pairing in the nation, Joseph Wayand and Martin Borisiouk, before their match would be halted at 6 apiece due to NC State clinching the doubles point on court one.
Maxime St. Hilaire would have his moments against No. 109 Braden Shick, but would fall by scores of 4-6, 4-6. No. 59 Ryan Fishback was matched up with an opponent with a similar position, but would fall to No. 61 Robin Catry, 2-6, 6-3, 0-6.
The Wolfpack were able to clinch the match on court three, as Hugo Maia fell in a second-set tiebreaker to Fons Van Sambeek, 2-6, 6-7 (4-7). Alex Ix would finish shortly after Maia, falling in a secon-set tiebreaker as well, by scores of 5-7, 6-7 (2-6).
Michael Shepheard would show immense determination on court four, battling back after dropping the first set, 4-6, and winning the second set 6-4. Shepheard would suffer an injury in the third set while trailing 1-4, resulting in a win by retirement for Luca Staeheli.
Freshman Benjamin Pomeranets had stout competition on court six, as he faced off against No. 124 Joseph Wayand, which resulted in a 4-6, 6-1, 2-6 loss for the freshman in his first match against a ranked opponent.
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The Hokies host ACC powerhouse, No. 3 Wake Forest, on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.Gallery: (3-1-2024) MTEN: NC State Match
