March 3, 2002

CHAPEL HILL N.C. -- The University of North Carolina men's tennis team won for the second time this weekend, defeating 33rd-ranked Rice University, 5-2, at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Sunday evening.

Carolina senior Marcio Petrone bested Rice's Richard Barker 6-2, 6-1 in their #1 singles match. Barker was ranked #54 nationally coming into the match. Petrone's win was his sixth consecutive victory dating back to Feb. 6.

The Tar Heels (6-2) also received a big lift from junior Trystan Meniane, who improved to 8-0 in the spring season by beating Rice's William Barker 6-1, 6-2 in #2 singles. UNC freshman Daniel Pinchbeck clinched the match for Carolina and also climbed to 8-0 this season by winning his #4 singles match 6-1,6-2 over Prakash Venkataraman.

"We did not click on all cylinders today, but we played very well in spots," said UNC head coach Sam Paul. "Overall, it was the best win of the year for us so far."

The Tar Heels will not play again until they host NC State on Friday afternoon, March 8. The match will be played at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis center and is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

Match Results: Singles

No. 1 Marcio Petrone (UNC) d. #54 Richard Barker (Rice) 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Trystan Meniane (UNC) d. William Barker (Rice) 6-1,6-2
No. 3 Matthias Mathaes (Rice) d. Nicholas Monroe (UNC) 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 Daniel Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Prakash Ventataraman (Rice) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 Geoff Boyd (UNC) d. Fabien Giraud (Rice) 6-4, 7-6 (4)
No. 6 Cody Jackson (Rice) d. Andrew Metzler (UNC) 6-3, 6-3

No. 1 (#33) Monroe/Boyd (UNC) d. Mathaes/Venkataraman (Rice) 8-5
No. 2 Giraud/W. Barker (Rice) d. Petrone/Archer (UNC) 8-6
No. 3 Meniane/Pinchbeck (UNC) d. R. Barker/Jackson (Rice) 8-4