Feb. 21, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Matching the great 8-0 start of the 2003 season, the No. 24 Carolina men’s tennis team notched a victory over the Wofford Terriers Saturday, 6-1, to remain perfect on the 2004 slate. Meanwhile, Tom Eklund remained perfect in dual matches in singles as he rolled to a 6-4,6-1 victory as he leads the team in wins this spring.
Keeping with the perfect theme, Ben Atkinson and Carl Wermee’s doubles team won a close 8-6 match at No. 2 doubles to keep their perfect spring record intact over Chris Barlow and Brandon Smith of Wofford. In other doubles action, Rob Cassidy and Geraldo Knorr fell at No. 3 doubles 8-5, the first time a Carolina doubles team has lost this season. Carolina eventually won the doubles point, however, as Marcus Westman and Eklund paired up for the 8-4 win at No. 1.
Knorr made quick work of the Terriers’ Brett Johnson at No. 4 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Wermee followed suit at No. 5 singles, taking the 6-1, 6-1 victory over Brandon Smith. Sealing the match win for Carolina was Atkinson as he beat Chris Barlow, 6-2, 6-2.
At No. 2 singles, Marcus Westman notched the 6-1,6-3 victory over Alex Fridzon of Wofford. Jason McAlhaney was the only Gamecock singles competitor to fall, dropping a 6-2, 7-6 (2) decision to Jason Megel.
The Gamecocks host Francis Marion and Garndner Webb in the final doubleheader of the season Sat., Feb. 28 at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center. USC will be vying to improve their record to 10-0, which would mark the best start for a Gamecock Tennis team since the 1984 season, when Carolina started off the season with a 13-0 mark before falling to Cal-Irvine in a 7-2 decision.
