Feb. 23, 2002

Columbia, SC –
Facing the stiffest competition so far this season, South Carolina’s men’s tennis team stepped up the challenge and walked away with a 4-3 victory over North Carolina on Saturday at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center.

After the schools split the match’s first two doubles contests, South Carolina’s tandem of Ben Atkinson and David Nelson rallied from a 3-6 deficit to win 8-7 over North Carolina’s Greg Archer and Marcio Petrone, taking the doubles point.

Rodrigo Pacheco, a senior from Bolivia, captured the South Carolina’s first singles win with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over North Carolina’s Tryston Meniane. Sophomore Marcus Westman was also victorious for the Gamecocks, winning 6-3, 6-1 over Andy Metzler. Angelo Niculescu slammed the door on the Tar Heels by topping Nicholas Monroe 7-5, 7-5.

The win moves the Gamecocks to 6-0 on the year. Up next for the Gamecocks will be the SEC season opener against Mississippi State, Friday at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center. Play will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Match Results
USC 4, North Carolina 3

Singles:
No. 1 Marcio Petrone d. Seth Rose (USC) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Angelo Niculescu (USC) d. Nicholas Monroe 7-5, 7-5
No. 3 Geoff Boyd d. David Nelson (USC) 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 Marcus Westman (USC) d. Andy Metzler 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 Rodrigo Pacheco (USC) d. Tryston Meniane 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Daniel Pinchbeck d. Ben Atkinson (USC) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles:
No. 1 Niculescu/Westman (USC) d. Boyd/Monroe 8-4
No. 2 Atkinson/Nelson (USC) d. Archer/Petrone 8-7
No. 3 Meniane/Pinchbeck d. Pacheco/Rose (USC) 8-1