Gamecocks Hammer North Carolina 4-2

March 20, 2003

Chapel Hill, NC – The No. 18 South Carolina men’s tennis team earned a 4-2 victory over North Carolina on Thursday at the Cone-Kenfield Indoor Tennis Center. The victory improves USC to 12-2 on the season.

South Carolina jumped ahead early by winning doubles matches at the No. 2 and No.3 positions. After gaining the 1-0 lead South Carolina used three singles victories to seal the match. Marcus Westman upset No. 76 Daniel Pinchbeck 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 3 position. Tom Eklund used straight sets to dispose of Derek Porter at No. 4 by a score of 6-3, 6-3. Sophomore Ben Atkinson earned his 21st win of the season with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 win over Andy Metzler while playing at No. 5. The victory gives South Carolina a 16-15 advantage in the all time series between the schools.

South Carolina returns to the courts on March 26th for a home match against Clemson at 2:00 p.m.

Match Results

#18 South Carolina 4, #39 North Carolina 2

Singles

1. #27 Trystan Meniane (UNC) d. Seth Rose; 7-6, 6-3

2. Nicholas Monroe (UNC) d, #59 Angelo Niculescu; 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

3. Marcus Westman (USC) d. #76 Daniel Pinchbeck; 6-7, 6-3, 6-1

4. Tom Eklund (USC) d. Derek Porter; 6-3, 6-3

5. Ben Atkinson (USC) d. Andy Metzler, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3

6. Geoff Boyd (UNC) vs. Geraldo Knorr, 7-6, 2-6, 5-5, suspended

Doubles

1. Meniane/Monroe (UNC) vs. Eklund/Westman, 7-6, suspended