CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Despite taking a 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point, fourth-ranked and fourth-seeded California lost to fifth-ranked and fifth-seeded North Carolina, 4-2, in the quarterfinal round of the ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championship on Saturday at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
 
The result is Cal's first loss of the season, as the Golden Bears' record is now 4-1. UNC improved to 11-0 and advanced to Sunday's semifinals. Cal will UCLA play in Sunday's consolation bracket at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
The Bears came out strong in doubles. First, the third-ranked pair of Cal seniors Filip Bergevi and Florian Lakat knocked off the 21st-ranked duo of William Blumberg and Robert Kelly, 6-3, and then senior Andre Goransson and junior Billy Griffith defeated Jack Murry and Ronnie Schneider, 6-3, to capture the point. Cal was winning on court three as well – with junior J.T. Nishimura and freshman Bjorn Hoffmann leading Blaine Boyden and Simon Soendergaard 5-4 – when the Bears clinched on court two to end doubles action.
 
Cal's good fortune didn't carry over into singles, at least not early on.
 
"Give credit to North Carolina for coming out with purpose after losing the doubles point," Cal head coach Peter Wright said. "They certainly put us on our heels by winning six first sets in singles. I think we did a very good job of fighting to get back into the match, but it wasn't enough today."
 
After losing on courts three and six, Cal tied the overall match at 2-2 when the 27th-ranked Goransson beat Blumberg, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, on court two.
 
Another Cal loss on court five put the Tar Heels on the brink of victory at 3-2.
 
Over on court one, Cal's 11th-ranked Lakat was leading the 16th-ranked Schneider, 4-6, 6-1, 6-6 (4-1 in the tiebreaker), and could have tied the match at 3-3 if he held on to win the third-set tiebreaker. But UNC ended the quarterfinal when Kelly defeated the 40th-ranked Griffith, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, on court four.
 
"We knew we'd eventually lose a match, but this one got away from us, so there is plenty go be gained," Wright said. "Everyone talks about our seniors, but remember two out of our six singles players today are freshmen and are learning on the job. As a team, we'll take this experience and benefit from it later in the season."
 
ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championship
Feb. 18, 2017, in Charlottesville, Va.
Boar's Head Sports Club
 
Quarterfinal Round
 
No. 5 [5] North Carolina (11-0) defeated No. 4 [4] California (4-1), 4-2
 
Doubles
1. No. 3 Filip Bergevi/Florian Lakat (Cal) def. No. 21 William Blumberg/Robert Kelly (UNC), 6-3
2. Andre Goransson/Billy Griffith (Cal) def. Jack Murray/Ronnie Schneider (UNC), 6-3
3. Bjorn Hoffmann/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) vs. Blaine Boyden/Simon Soendergaard (UNC), 5-4 Abandoned
 
Cal won the doubles point
 
Order of Finish: 1, 2*
 
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. No. 11 Florian Lakat (Cal) vs. No. 16 Ronnie Schneider (UNC), 4-6, 6-1, 6-6(4-1) Abandoned
2. No. 27 Andre Goransson (Cal) def. William Blumberg (UNC), 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) def. No. 42 Filip Bergevi (Cal), 6-4, 6-2
4. Robert Kelly (UNC) def. No. 40 Billy Griffith (Cal), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
5. Jack Murray (UNC) def. Bjorn Hoffmann (Cal), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
6. Blaine Boyden (UNC) def. Connor Heap (Cal), 6-2, 7-5
 
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 2, 5, 4^
 
^Clinched the overall match