Sept. 22, 2001

Athens, GA –
Two South Carolina men’s tennis players opened fall play with victories on Friday in the 2001 Southern Collegiate Championships in Athens, Ga.. The Gamecocks also advanced two doubles teams into the next round.

In Division I play, Angelo Nichelelescu, a junior transfer from South Carolina State, won his first match as a Gamecock, defeating Kentucky’s John Grunditz 6-2, 7-6. Also victorious for the Gamecocks in the Division II bracket, No.7 seed Carl Wermee won over Central Florida’s Antonio Sierra in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.

In Doubles (Division I bracket) action, Carolina’s Ben Atkinson and David Nelson pulled out a victory over UAB’s team of Klein/ Van Der Merwe 8-6. After an opening-round bye in that same bracket, USC’s Angelo Nicheleseu and Marcus Westman easily handled Allen/Shults of Duke 8-4, in second-round action.

Complete South Carolina results are listed below. Action continues at the Southern Collegiate Championships through Monday.

Singles:
Division I (Round of 64) Tony Mule (UNC-Greensboro) def. David Nelson (USC) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, Renaro Silveria (Georgia) def. Marcus Westman (USC) 6-3, 7-5, Angelo Nichelescu (USC) def. John Grunditz (Kentucky) 6-2, 7-6

Division II (Round of 64) Matias Westerberg (Tulane) def. (8) Rodrigo Pacheco (USC) 7-6, 6-1, (7)Carl Wermee (USC)def. Antonio Sierra (Central Florida) 6-2, 6-3, Razvan Ilie (Tennessee Tech) def. Ben Atkison (USC) 6-3, 6-2

Division III (Round of 64) Rolando Vargas (Troy State) def. Rob Cassidy (USC) 7-5, 6-4, Elliott Elkins (USC) def. Andy Crews (Tennessee), default

Doubles:
Division I (Round of 32) (16) Atkinson/Nelson (USC) def. Klein/Van Der Merwe (UAB) 8-6

Division I (Round of 16) (16) Nicheleseu/Westman (USC) def. Allen/Shults (Duke) 8-4

Division II (Round of 16) Campos/Menano (Georgia Tech) def. (2) Pacheco/Wermee (USC) 8-5