University of North Carolina Athletics
USC Holds On To Top Heels
March 20, 2003 | Men's Tennis
March 20, 2003
Chapel Hill, N.C. - North Carolina fought hard in every singles match, but it could not overcome losing the doubles point and fell to No. 18 South Carolina 4-2 at the Cone-Kenfield Indoor Tennis Center.
After USC (12-2) won the doubles point, it picked up a daunting 3-1 lead after Tom Eklund and Ben Atkinson dispatched UNC's Derek Porter and Andy Metzler at the #4 and #5 spots, respectively. Trystan Meniane put the Tar Heels (7-5) on the board with a win over Seth Rose at #1 singles.
Nicholas Monroe then upset No. 59 Angelo Niculesco in three sets at #2 and seemed to breath new life into the Tar Heels. But the Gamecocks held on, as No. 76 Daniel Pinchbeck was upset in three sets by Marcus Westman at the #3 spot.
That win gave USC its fourth and clinching point for the match.
"South Carolina just played too well," UNC Coach Sam Paul said. "I was proud of my team's effort, and we pressed them hard, but in the end, they were just too tough."
Paul, a South Carolina native, served as an assistant coach for USC from 1985 to 1986.
Monroe's win at singles may be enough to return him to a national ranking in singles, but that wasn't enough to satisfy the junior.
"I played well, but it all comes down to the team," Monroe said. "We didn't come out with intensity in doubles.
"We gave it our all in singles, but we have to give it our all for the whole match. We've got a good team and a lot of talent, but we've got to get more hungry."
USC's only losses have come to No. 6 Ole Miss and to No. 9 Kentucky.
#18 South Carolina 4, #39 North Carolina 2
Singles
1. #27 Trystan Meniane (UNC) d. Seth Rose; 7-6(2), 6-2
2. Nicholas Monroe (UNC) d, #59 Angelo Niculescu; 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
3. Marcus Westman (USC) d. #76 Daniel Pinchbeck; 6-7, 6-2, 6-1*
4. Tom Eklund (USC) d. Derek Porter; 6-3, 6-3
5. Ben Atkinson (USC) d. Andy Metzler, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
6. Geoff Boyd (UNC) vs. Geraldo Knorr, 7-6, 2-6, 5-5, suspended
Doubles (one team point to winner of at least 2 matches)
1. Meniane/Monroe (UNC) vs. Eklund/Westman, 7-7, suspended
2. Rose/Carl Wermee (USC) d. Greg Archer/Pinchbeck; 8-6
3. Knorr/Niculescu (USC) d. Boyd/Metzler; 8-6
Order of finish in singles (#4, #1, #5, #2, #3)
* clinched the match
Players Mentioned
