ATHENS, Ga. – Despite a late rally, eighth-seeded/eighth-ranked California lost to ninth-seeded/ninth-ranked North Carolina, 4-1, in the NCAA round of 16 on Thursday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex at the University of Georgia. Freshman Bjorn Hoffmann posted the lone point for the Golden Bears in beating Bo Boyden, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.
 
In doubles, the 74th-ranked pair of senior Andre Goransson and junior Billy Griffith beat the 82nd-duo of Jack Murray and Simon Soendergaard, 6-3, on court two to give Cal's court-one team a chance to clinch the point. But, in a matchup of two of the top doubles teams in the nation, Cal's fifth-ranked pair of Lakat and senior Filip Bergevi lost a tight match to the 12th-ranked William Blumberg and Robert Kelly, 7-6(2).
 
After dropping all six first sets in singles, the Bears rallied to force three-setters on five of the six courts. Trailing 3-0, Hoffmann won his match on court six to give Cal some hope. But the Tar Heels clinched the win when the 22nd-ranked Ronnie Schneider upset the 12th-ranked Lakat, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, on court one.
 
Cal lost both matches to UNC this season, including a 4-2 setback in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship quarterfinals in February.
 
"We've had some great battles with North Carolina," Cal head coach Peter Wright said. "They are a really strong team. It was a great college match. We had some match points in the doubles that might have made a whole difference in the match. We got behind early, but this team has a tremendous heart and we just never went away and that is all that I ask every time out. North Carolina went out ahead today, but it wasn't because of a lack of effort on our part."
 
Cal, which reached the NCAA semifinals last season, ended the team portion of this season with a 20-8 record. UNC, which moves on to Saturday's quarterfinals, improved to 27-4.
 
Lakat and senior Andre Goransson will next compete in the NCAA Singles Championship starting May 24, the day after the NCAA team final. Lakat and Bergevi will play in the NCAA Doubles Championship starting May 25 in Athens, which is also the home of the ITA Men's Collegiate Hall of Fame.
 
"We love the competition and we love the battle," Wright said of playing in the round of 16. "You learn from this every time out, and it's a great experience. Athens is the home of college tennis, so for our guys to play here is an incredible experience. Maybe Athens isn't going to be in the picture for a little bit, which is disappointing, but this facility has some tremendous memories for me and for our team. We are just excited and happy to be able to compete at such a high level here at the NCAA Championships."
 
NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship Round of 16
 
[9] No. 9 North Carolina (27-4) def. [8] No. 8 California (20-8), 4-1
May 18, 2017, in Athens, Ga.
Dan Magill Tennis Complex
 
Doubles
1. No. 12 William Blumberg/Robert Kelly (UNC) def. No. 5 Filip Bergevi/Florian Lakat (Cal), 7-6(2)
2. No. 74 Andre Goransson/Billy Griffith (Cal) def. No. 82 Jack Murray/Simon Soendergaard (UNC), 6-3
3. Anu Kodali/Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. Bjorn Hoffmann/J.T. Nishimura (Cal), 6-1
 
UNC won the doubles point
 
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1*
 
Singles
1. No. 22 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. No. 12 Florian Lakat (Cal), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2. No. 16 Willliam Blumberg (UNC) def. No. 61 Andre Goransson (Cal), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
3. No. 116 Robert Kelly (UNC) vs. Filip Bergevi (Cal), 6-4, 2-6, 6-6 Unfinished
4. Simon Soendergaard (UNC) vs. No. 81 Billy Griffith (Cal), 6-3, 4-6, 5-3 Unfinished
5. Jack Murray (UNC) def. J.T. Nishimura (Cal), 6-4, 6-3
6. Bjorn Hoffmann (Cal) def. Bo Boyden (UNC), 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
 
Order of Finish – 5, 2, 6, 1^