Oct. 25, 2002

Chapel Hill, NC– The South Carolina men’s tennis team continued play in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at the 2002 ITA Regional Indoor Championships. Four Gamecocks competed in singles play, while the school sent one doubles team to the tournament.

Angelo Niculescu opened the tournament with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Hager Endler of Florida State. In the second round Niculescu defeated Izak van der Merwe of Old Dominion in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. Niculescu will be back in action Saturday morning in Round of 16 competition.

Ben Atkinson, Marcus Westman and Seth Rose also claimed opening round victories, but the trio fell in their respective second round matches. Atkinson’s win came over James Cameron of Furman 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Westman defeated Stephen Amritaj of Duke 7-5, 7-5. Rose’s victory was a 6-2, 6-2 win of Jose Carlos Pinto of Hampton.

In doubles play Ben Atkinson and Angelo Niculescu defeated Glauco Nascirento and Jose Carlos Pinto of Hampton 8-4. Atkinson and Niculescu fell in the second round of doubles 9-8(3) to Nicholas Monroe and Daniel Pinchbeck of North Carolina.

Play will continue throughout the weekend. Championship matches will be played Sunday morning.