Feb. 15, 2003

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Paced by a solid doubles performance, South Carolina’s No. 17 ranked men’s tennis team defeated North Carolina State 7-0 on Saturday at the Same Daniel Tennis Center. The Gamecocks were in control from the opening serve as the doubles teams of Carl Westman/Tom Eklund, Seth Rose/Carl Wermee, and Geraldo Knorr/Angelo Niculescu rolled to easy victories. The win moves the Gamecocks to 5-0 on the year.

In Singles play, Seth Rose led the way in the No. 1 Singles, easily cruising to a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Angelo Niculescu also coasted to an easy victory over Val Banada, 6-1, 6-4. Marcus Westman, Tom Eklund, Carl Wermee, and Ben Atkinson also posted victories for the flawless Gamecocks.

With the win, South Carolina moves to 5-0 on the season (5-0 in Region II play). The Gamecocks will be back in action next Sunday with a pair of matches against USC-Aiken and Furman beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center.

Match Results

Singles:
No. 1 Seth Rose (USC)        d. R.J. Murray       6-3, 6-1No. 2 Angelo Niculescu (USC) d. Val Banada        6-1, 6-4No. 3 Marcus Westman (USC)   d. Will Shaw         6-4, 7-5No. 4 Tom Eklund (USC)       d. John Davis        6-2, 7-6No. 5 Carl Wermee (USC)      d. Rehman Esmail     6-2, 6-1No. 6 Ben Atkinson (USC)     d. Chris Mills       6-0, 6-2
Doubles:
No. 1 Westman/Eklund (USC)     d. Murray/Banada   8-5No. 2 Rose/Wermee (USC)        d. Davis/Esmail    8-6No. 3 Knorr/Niculescu (USC) d. Shaw/Mills      8-3