University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 11 North Carolina Eliminates S.C. State From NCAA Tournament 4-0
May 13, 2006 | Men's Tennis
May 13, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The No. 11-ranked North Carolina men's tennis team advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round for the second time in the last three years as the Tar Heels stormed past Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion South Carolina State 4-0 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center Saturday morning. No. 24 Clemson (22-9) meets No. 42 South Carolina (14-14) in the second NCAA first round match Saturday at 12 noon with the winner advancing to play North Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m.
Coach Sam Paul's Tar Heels earned a hard-fought doubles point to claim an early 1-0 lead in the match. At No. 3 doubles, UNC senior Derek Porter and UNC junior Sebastian Guejman made quick work of Dmitry Lomakin and Sergey Plotnikov 8-1. At No. 2 doubles, Carolina sophomores Lenny Gullan and David Stone jumped out a 4-1 lead over Dragan Bisercic and Parantap Chaturvedi only to see the match progress to a five all tie. UNC's double tandem then won the last three games of the match, breaking the Bulldogs in the 12th game and going on to win 8-5. The number one doubles match was a series of back-and-forth games with each team consistently winning two games at a time, resulting in what seemed to be an inevitable tiebreaker which never started after the match on court two ended.
After doubles took 90 minutes to play, the singles action was done just 65 minutes later. Carolina won the first set on all six courts and then it became a contest to see which players which finish their matches first. Senior Aly Mandour dispatched Sergey Plotnikov 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 6 flight. Another senior, Derek Porter, matched Mandour's score at No. 3 singles in a win over Dragan Bisercic.
UNC then clinched the match at No. 2 singles as senior Brad Pomeroy became the third fourth-year Tar Heel to win in singles by beating Dmitry Lomakin 6-2, 6-0.
Final Score:
No. 11 North Carolina 4, South Carolina State 0
Doubles (pro sets, team winning at least two of three matches earns one team point)
No. 1 #5 Raian Luchici / Brad Pomeroy (UNC) vs. Ionut Hurdue / Andrew Mawire (SCSU), 8-8, supsended
No. 2 Lenny Gullan / David Stone (UNC) d. Dragan Bisercic / Parantap Chatirvedi (SCSU), 8-5
No. 3 Sebastian Guejman / Derek Porter (UNC) d. Dmitry Lomakin / Sergey Plotnikov (SCSU), 8-1
(North Carolina claims doubles point to lead match 1-0)
Singles (best of three sets)
No. 1 #10 Raian Luchici (UNC) led Andrew Mawire (SCSU), 6-2, 5-1, suspended
No. 2 Brad Pomeroy (UNC) d. Dmitry Lomakin (SCSU), 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 Derek Porter (UNC) d. Dragan Bisercic (SCSU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Benjamin Carlotti (UNC) d. Ionut Hurdue (SCSU), 6-4, suspended
No. 5 Sebastian Guejman (UNC) Parantao Chaturvedi (SCSU), 6-3, 2-1, suspended
No. 6 Aly Mandour (UNC) Sergey Plotnikov (SCSU), 6-1, 6-2
Records: North Carolina 24-4; South Carolina State 19-7
MATCH QUOTES
North Carolina Head Coach Sam Paul
"I felt a lot better about our play in singles. South Carolina State played extremely well in doubles. We knew we had to work hard today to win.
"This is one of the best groups I've ever had. Academically these kids have the best grade point average of any men's team on campus. We have a special group of seniors. We've done a good job of staying together as a group and a team.
"I really liked the crowd today. I hope all our fans come out again tomorrow."
North Carolina senior Brad Pomeroy
"I thought we started out slowly today. Once we got to singles I think we got back into synch and took care of business.
"Every tournament is important to me. You only get four in your career. We have a special team. I think our team has great chemistry. Every guy is different and unique and we have a fun group to be around.
"I try to prepare for every match beforehand. I know as a senior I have to come ready to play every day."
North Carolina senior Derek Porter
"I feel pretty good. But we have to do a better job in doubles. In singles we jumped out on top and ran away with it.
"I just want to continue playing college tennis. I want to stay focused and play every match I can in this tournament. I think if we stay confident and prepare well we have a good chance to continue playing.
"As a senior I want to show the younger kids how to compete. When I was a freshman I know I looked up to our seniors for that role."
Players Mentioned
