ORLANDO, FL – No. 5 Virginia State (30-4) defeated No. 3 Ohio State (34-3) 4-0 in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Tennis Team Championships at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
It was Virginia’s second straight NCAA championship and sixth overall.
Virginia won the doubles point and took three straight singles matches. Junior Inaki Montes got the win on the second pitch.
“It’s just as surreal as when we won last year,” head coach Andres Pedroso said. “I’m thankful for the guys, the staff, the coaches. It’s really a team effort. A lot of people put a lot of time into this process. And the players are really special. Really special. It’s been a tough season. We’ve been through a lot and they’ve just been there and they’ve believed in us. It’s a credit to their character, the values they’ve brought up in their family life, the values they’ve had in their lives. I’m really lucky to have these guys because they’re really fun to coach. there is.”
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In doubles, the Cavaliers took the first hole, with Buckeyes Cannon Kingsley and JJ Tracy winning 6-3 on court three, but Chris Rodesch and Jeffrey von der Schulenburg evened the score with a 6-2 win on court two. Von der Schulenburg was leading 5-2 and he got two points to take the match. Montes and William Woodall were up 5-3 in the decider and also scored two points to tie the score for the Cavaliers.
Von der Schulenburg beat No. 22 JJ Tracy 6-2, 6-1 on court three to give the Cavaliers a 2-0 lead before the end of the first set on court six.
Rodesh took the first set against 24th-ranked Justin Boulais on the top court, winning 6-4, before taking the second set 6-2 to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead.
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Montes also took a close first set against 11th-ranked Cannon Kingsley on court two, 6-4. Montes took a 5-2 lead in the second set before serving for the win and securing the title.
“I think the difference between this year and last year is maybe some guys have really stepped up,” Pedroso said. “Really stepped up! Alex Kiefer and Mans Dahlberg really worked for this team. William Woodall really worked for this team. We’re in the top four, those guys are always there for us. We rely on those guys every game, but those three guys worked for us, even the sideline coaches Jaffiser, Jafftug and Doigug. It’s just a blessing and just a difference maker, so the guys this year took a big step, it was necessary, and maybe it makes this year a little bit more special.”
Rodesh was named tournament MVP. He was one of four singles players to earn All-Tournament Team honors. Virginia was also two of three all-tournament doubles teams, including No. 2 seed Rodesch and von der Schulenburg.
“We had the momentum of the double play, so we came out firing,” Rodesh said. “We got a break early and then doubles and first sets [in singles]. It happened really fast. We had great body language throughout the match. And in singles. Every time I looked at Inaki, the guy always looked up. It gave me a lot of confidence. And in the end, it happened very quickly. It’s a great feeling.”
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UVA and Ohio State have met twice this season, with the Buckeyes winning those contests 4-1 and 4-0.
Virginia closed the season on a 22-game winning streak and is undefeated on the road this season.
It was Virginia’s second NCAA title this year and 33rd overall since the women’s swimming championships in March.
The men’s tennis team won its first title in 2013, won three in a row in the 2015-2017 season and won back-to-back in the 2022-23 season. This is Pedroso’s second title as head coach. He was the head coach of the 2013 NCAA Championship team.
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