Feb. 24, 2001

Chapel Hill, NC - The North Carolina men's tennis team suffered its second straight defeat on Saturday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

North Carolina lost the doubles point to begin play after losing at the #1 and #3 doubles positions. Carolina's #1 combo of Marcio Petrone and Nicholas Monroe fell in a tight match 8-6 to Tulsa's Sudhaker and McGregor team. After falling behind 7-4, Petrone/Monroe broke and held serve to get to 7-6, before losing the final game. The #3 slot saw UNC's duo of Aron Breziner and Greg Archer lose to Zomer and Nammar 8-1. The Heel's lone doubles victory came at the #2 position as David Cheatwood and Trystan Meniane rolled past Tulsa's Timperley and Sebastyanski team for an 8-6 victory.

The Golden Hurricane stormed to a 2-0 lead after #6 singles player Sean Monk defeated UNC senior Chad Riley 6-0, 6-4. Riley was back in action today after missing play in yesterday's South Florida match due to injury.

The Heels were quick to answer the Golden Hurricane's 2-0 lead as #1 Marcio Petrone and #3 Nicholas Monroe each won their respective singles matches in straight sets. Junior Petrone defeated Pawel Sebastyanski 6-4, 6-2. Freshman Nicholas Monroe disposed of Tulsa's Shriranga Sudhaker 6-2, 6-3. The victory moved Monroe to 6-0 on the season in singles play. Monroe has now played the last three matches at #3.

After the Heels tied the score at 2-2, the Hurricane answered with a victory at #4 singles. The Golden Hurricane's Alejandro Tejerina defeated UNC sophomore Trystan Meniane in three sets 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4. Meniane and Tejerina's third set was the most exciting of the match as each player vied for the pivotal third point of the match.

Tulsa clinched the victory as #5 singles player Micah Zomer defeated UNC sophomore Greg Archer in another exciting three set match. Archer rallied from a second set deficit to split sets and force the crucial third set. A late third set surge wasn't enough for Archer as Zomer finally won 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. After clinching the match, the Golden Hurricane earned its fifth and final point with a victory at #2 singles. UNC senior David Cheatwood fell in three sets to Tulsa's Dane McGregor 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. The Heels' third loss of the season marks the second straight match where Carolina has lost three three set singles contests. The Heels now post a 3-3 record while the Golden Hurricane advance to 6-2.

The Tar Heels will next be in action on March 4th when they host the Charlotte 49ers. The match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

SINGLES-

#1 Marcio Petrone (UNC) d. Pawel Sebastyanski (TU) 6-4, 6-2

#2 Dane McGregor (TU) d. David Cheatwood (UNC) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

#3 Nicholas Monroe (UNC) d. Shriranga Sudhaker (TU) 6-2, 6-3

#4 Alejandro Tejerina (TU) d. Trystan Meniane (UNC) 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4

#5 Micah Zomer (TU) d. Greg Archer (UNC) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 *

#6 Sean Monk (TU) d. Chad Riley (UNC) 6-3, 6-4

DOUBLES-

#1 Sudhaker/McGregor (TU) d. Petrone/Monroe (UNC) 8-6

#2 Cheatwood/Meniane (UNC) d. Timperley/Sebastyanski (TU) 8-6

#3 Nammar/Zomer (TU) d. Archer/Breziner (UNC) 8-1

* Victory clinching match