North Carolina
Virginia
Carolina Upsets No. 12 Virginia To Remain Unbeaten In The ACC
April 3, 2004 | Men's Tennis
April 3, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - The No. 18 North Carolina men's tennis team remained undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference Saturday as Coach Sam Paul's team gutted out a troika of three-set victories in singles to hand the No. 12 Virginia Cavaliers only their second loss of the season, 5-2, at the University of Virginia's Snyder Tennis Center. The Tar Heels improved to 20-2 overall on the season and 6-0 in the ACC, the only undefeated team in the conference. Carolina's senior class improved to 4-0 against the Cavaliers.
The Tar Heels jumped on top against the Wahoos by winning two of three doubles matches to claim the doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, North Carolina's Nick Monroe and Geoff Boyd, ranked No. 21 in the nation, upset the No. 14 duo from Virginia of Rylan Rizza and Nick Meythaler. UNC then also won at No. 3 as junior Jonathan Janda teammed with Raian Luchici to whip Marko Miklo and Stephen Rozek of Virginia 8-3.
The match went to singles where the score was quickly tied at 2-2. UNC claimed a victory at No. 6 singles as junior Geoff Boyd downed Darrin Cohen 6-2, 6-2. Virginia was equally dominant at No. 2 and No. 3 singles as Rylan Rizza and Marko Miklo claimed straight set wins.
With the score tied the match came down to the other three courts and all three matches went to three sets with UNC claiming wins at all three spots. At No. 4, Luchici outlasted Stephen Rozek by a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 score. At No. 5, sophomore Brad Pomeroy rallied past Meythaler by a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 score. At No. 1, in a matchup of two nationally-ranked players, Carolina's Nick Monroe came from behind to beat Doug Stewart 6-7, 7-5, 7-5.
"This was a great college tennis match," Coach Sam Paul remarked. "There was great sportsmanship on both sides, a very clean match. I am proud of my team," Paul continued. "They have worked hard and it is starting to pay off for them."
Today's victory was Sam Paul's 62nd ACC win at Carolina, tying him with his mentor, former UNC Head Coach Allen Morris. Morris and Paul's 62 conference wins rank fifth most all-time among ACC tennis coaches.
Carolina has two matches remaining in the regular season and it is the only remaining ACC team without a loss in league play. The Tar Heels play at Duke Wednesday and at Florida State next Saturday.
#18 NORTH CAROLINA 5, #12 VIRGINIA 2
Doubles (Point goes to UNC)
1. No. 21 Nick Monroe/Geoff Boyd (UNC) d. No. 14 Rylan Rizza/Nick Meythaler (VA), 8-3
2. Darrin Cohen/Doug Stewart (VA) d. Andy Metzler/Brad Pomeroy (UNC), 8-3
3. Rain Luchici/Jonathan Janda (UNC) d. Stephen Rozek/Marko Miklo (VA), 8-3
Singles
1. No. 31 Nick Monroe d No. 21 Doug Stewart (VA) 6-7, 7-5, 7-5
2. Rylan Rizza (VA) d. Derek Porter (UNC), 6-1, 6-3
3. Marko Miklo (VA) d. Andy Metzler (UNC), 6-0, 6-1
4. Raian Luchici (UNC) d. Stephen Rozek (VA), 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
5. Brad Pomeroy (UNC) d. Nick Meythaler (VA), 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
6. Geoff Boyd (UNC) d. Darrin Cohen (VA), 6-2, 6-2
Records: UNC 20-2, ACC 6-0; Virginia 16-2, ACC 5-1
Players Mentioned
