Carolina Men's Tennis Defeats Georgia Tech 4-3

Sunday, March 24

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1:00 PM ET

North Carolina

Georgia Tech

March 24, 2002 | Men's Tennis

By: UNC Athletic Communications

March 24, 2002

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--The #44 North Carolina men's tennis team won in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, defeating ACC rival Georgia Tech 4-3 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

With the match knotted at 3-3 and all eyes turned to the day's lone remaining match, Tar Heel senior Marcio Petrone defeated Tech's Roger Anderson 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in #1 singles. Anderson, a junior, is currently ranked 28th nationally in singles.

Immediately after having his serve broken and trailing Anderson 3-2 in the third set, Petrone called timeout after feeling a burning sensation under his toes on both feet. After the match, the senior said he also used the allotted timeout to slow Anderson's tempo. When play resumed, Petrone rallied to win four of the match's remaining five games.

"It was very good to get the win on the last point of the match," Petrone said. "This was one of my last few matches at home and there was a big crowd here for us. I am proud to win for the team, we needed it."

Carolina took four of the six singles matches to secure the win despite losing the doubles' point. UNC junior Trystan Meniane contributed a huge 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (12-10) win over Tech's David Wright in #2 singles. Carolina freshman Daniel Pinchbeck defeated Tech's Jao Menano 6-2, 6-4 at #3 singles. Meniane and Pinchbeck have each lost just one singles match this spring.

"This is a great win for us," said UNC head coach Sam Paul. "I am really proud of Marcio, he handled that match like a champion. From his composure to his body language, everything was perfect.

"I was not pleased with our doubles play, but we proved we are a deep team today. We are getting there."

The victory over the Yellow Jackets lifted the #44 Tar Heels to 9-4 (2-0 ACC) on the campaign heading into a home match against #55 Brown Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. Later this week UNC will host Clemson Friday at 5 p.m. and 15th-ranked Virginia Commonwealth next Sunday at 1 p.m.

#44 North Carolina 4, #50 Georgia Tech 3

Doubles

1. Anderson/Wright (GT) d. Monroe/Boyd (UNC) 8-5

2. #28 Nott/Schnugg (GT) d. Archer/Petrone (UNC) 8-4

3. Meniane/Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Campos/Menano 8-6

Georgia Tech wins 2 of 3, earning one team point

Singles (one team point per win)

1. Marcio Petrone (UNC) d. #28 Roger Anderson (GT) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4*

2. Trystan Meniane (UNC) d. David Wright (GT) 7-6(6), 7-6(10)

3. Daniel Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Jao Menano (GT) 6-2, 6-4

4. Schott Schnugg (GT) d. Nicholas Monroe (UNC) 7-6, 6-4

5. Stephen Monroe (GT) d. Geoff Boyd (UNC) 7-6, 6-2