April 19, 2002

Knoxville, TN –

On day two of the SEC Championships, South Carolina’s No. 21 ranked men’s tennis team fell to the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs by a score of 4-1. With the loss, USC falls to 16-8 on the year (5-8 SEC). Georgia improves to 23-2 (11-1 SEC).

South Carolina can up just short in doubles, sending all three matches into a tie-break. At No. 2, Seth Rose and Carl Wermee paired for a 9-8(2) victory over Georgia’s #57 ranked team of Wagner/Seri. However, Georgia stalled Carolina upset bids at positions No. 1 and No. 3 to take the doubles point.

In singles play, # 73 Angelo Niculescu picked up the lone USC victory. Playing out of the No. 2 position, Niculescu topped #103 Bo Hodge by a score of 6-4, 6-1. The win marked Niculescu’s 23rd victory in his first season as a Gamecock.

South Carolina returns home to await the pairing for NCAA tournament. NCAA Regional play begins on May 10th.

Match Results
#1 Georgia 4, #9 South Carolina 1

Singles:

1) #4 Matias Boeker (UGA) def. #39 Seth Rose (SC) 7-6(2), 6-3
2) #73 Angelo Niculescu (SC) def. #103 Bo Hodge (UGA) 6-4, 6-1
3) #44 Lesley Joseph (UGA) def. David Nelson (SC) 6-4, 6-3
4) #20 Brandon Wagner (UGA) vs. #119 Marcus Westman (SC) DNF (SC led 7-6, 4-6, 2-1)
5) Adam Seri (UGA) vs. Carl Wermee (SC) DNF (Georgia led 7-5, 6-5)
6) Nicolas Boeker (UGA) def. Rodrigo Pacheco (SC) 6-1, 6-2
Finishing order: 2, 6, 3, 1*
*Clinching point

Doubles:

1) #24 M. Boeker/Hodge (UGA) def. Westman/Niculescu (SC) 9-8(5)
2) Rose/Wermee (SC) def. #57 Wagner/Seri (UGA) 9-8(2)
3) Joseph/N. Boeker (UGA) def. Nelson/Atkinson (SC) 9-8(4)
(Georgia wins doubles point)
Finishing order: 2, 3, 1*