Duke Edged by Virginia Tech, 4-3

Sunday, March 28

Blacksburg, Va. / Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center

11 a.m.

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Edu Guell gets ready to serve against Virginia on Friday

Duke Edged by Virginia Tech, 4-3

3/28/2021 5:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Blacksburg, Va. – Duke dropped a 4-3 decision to Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.

Despite taking the doubles point, the Blue Devils saw the Hokies rally to win four of the six singles matches to steal the win. Duke dips to 7-7 overall and 3-3 in ACC play, while Virginia Tech improves to 9-6 and 5-4, respectively.

Andrew Zhang and Michael Heller started doubles action with an impressive 6-3 victory over Michael Shepheard and Ryan Kros on court three. The Hokies answered with a 6-4 win on court two after Alex Ribeiro and Mitch Harper defeated Edu Güell and Luca Keist. With the doubles point being decided by the outcome on court one, No. 12 Sean Sculley and Garrett Johns outlasted No. 36 Ryan Fishback and Jordan Chrysostom, 7-6, to hand Duke the 1-0 edge heading into singles action.

The Hokies quickly saw Harper tied the overall match up at 1-1 after beating No. 92 Johns on the main court during singles play 6-4, 6-3. No. 94 Güell then handed Duke back its edge after earning a thrilling 7-6 (4) tiebreak victory in set one before claiming a 6-4 win in the second.

Again, Virginia Tech tied the match up after Fishback defeated Keist on court five. Keist recorded a 6-4 victory in set one but dropped set two 6-2. During the final frame, Keist fell in heartbreaking fashion dropping a 7-6 (8) tiebreak decision.

The Hokies then claimed the next two matches on court two and four to record the come-from-behind win. No. 96 Matthis Ross beat Sculley in three sets 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 on the second court, while Hugo Maia also defeated No. 101 Zhang in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (1).

Samuel Rubell earned one last victory for Duke on court six after he tallied a 7-6, 6-4 win over Alvaro Ariza but the Hokies had already secured the overall win.

The Blue Devils will host its first outdoor match on Wednesday when they welcome Liberty to the Ambler Tennis Stadium for a 3 p.m. contest.

RESULTS
Singles (1,3,5,2,4*,6)
1. Mitch Harper (VT) def. #92 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #96 Matthis Ross (VT) def. Sean Sculley (DU) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
3. #94 Edu Güell (DU) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
4. Hugo Maia (VT) def. #101 Andrew Zhang (DU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Ryan Fishback (VT) def. Luca Keist (DU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8)
6. Samuel Rubell (DU) def. Alvaro Ariza (VT) 7-6, 6-4

Doubles (3,2,1*)
1. #12 Sean Sculley/Garrett Johns (DU) def. #36 Jordan Chrysostom/Ryan Fishback (VT) 7-6
2. Mitch Harper/Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. Edu Güell/Luca Keist (DU) 6-4
3. Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (DU) def. Ryan Kros/Michael Shepheard (VT) 6-3

#GoDuke