The Virginia men’s tennis team will look to build on its undefeated record this weekend when it takes on Kentucky and Maryland, its first ACC opponent of the season, at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
The Cavaliers are coming off a strong performance last weekend, during which the team beat both Arkansas and East Tennessee State 7-0 to qualify for the ITA National Indoor Championships. The team’s 6-0 start to the season is especially important to the Cavaliers’ No. 1 player Dominic Inglot, who said he believes the team’s success has demonstrated to the rest of the NCAA that it deserves its No. 5 ranking.
“We’re really happy to qualify,” Inglot said. “It’s going to send a message to potential opponents that the team is just as strong as it was last year.”
Virginia coach Brian Boland said Inglot has adjusted well to playing in the No. 1 spot for Virginia.
“To beat [Enrique] Oliveras from East Tennessee State on Saturday so convincingly in straight sets, have the kind of focus he did throughout, compete as hard as he did and hit the ball really clean and move extremely well — it was a tremendous performance,” Boland said. “Hopefully, that’s giving him a lot of confidence as he moves forward into the dual matchups.”
Inglot has come a long way to reach this point, however, after suffering from a torn rotator cuff last year. While Virginia’s current No. 1 player says he is 100 percent healthy now — “as long as [he] take[s] care of it” — the on-court challenges will only continue to grow in difficulty for Inglot. No. 37 Kentucky, led by the fourth-ranked player in the country in senior Bruno Agostinelli, poses a formidable opponent.
“[Agostinelli] is definitely going to be a legitimate tennis player; that will be a tough [match],” Inglot said. “But I’m really looking forward to it on my current wave of confidence. I feel really good about playing him.”
Agostinelli is a familiar opponent for Virginia after beating sophomore Michael Shabaz at the National Indoors this fall. Inglot said he hopes his teammate will be able to give him some tips so he might be able to end Agostinelli’s undefeated singles record this season.
Bolstered by Agostinelli’s winning streak, Kentucky upset No. 17 Rice last weekend 4-3 and then nearly took down No. 9 Mississippi but lost 4-3 instead. Part of its success can be attributed to the strong doubles team of sophomore Brad Cox and Agostinelli. Virginia junior Houston Barrick and sophomore Sanam Singh will take on the pair, currently ranked No. 14 nationally.
Inglot believes Friday’s result will have important implications for the Cavaliers as the season progresses.
“That’s going to be another good result to have, especially before National Indoors,” Inglot said. “I think we’ve played against some good teams, but this one is slightly better — it’s building us up nicely, giving us a little confidence going into National Indoors.”
After the contest against the Wildcats, Virginia will begin its ACC schedule Sunday against Maryland. The Terps dropped their opening match of the season against Louisville but rebounded quickly against Georgetown, winning 7-0.
Boland does not dare to look ahead, though, even if for a single game.
“Right now, I’ll be candid,” Boland said. “I haven’t even considered Maryland just simply because all our attention and focus is on Kentucky.”
Inglot, however, recognizes the importance of a strong start to the conference schedule.
“Maryland is an ACC contender,” Inglot said. “It will be good to get the ACC started.”
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