March 12, 2001

HOUSTON, TEX. -- Rice rallied from a 3-1 deficit and overcame two match points to defeat North Carolina 4-3 in men's tennis Monday afternoon. The Owls improved to 12-0 this season, while the Tar Heels fell to 4-5.

North Carolina won the doubles point and raced to a 3-1 lead on the strength of straight set wins from Nicholas Monroe and Trystan Meniane. The Tar Heels also won the first set on all three singles matches left on court. However, Rice's Matthias Mathaes fought off a match point in the third set tiebreaker to defeat David Cheatwood 4-6, 6-4, 7-6. Rice's Richard Barker evened the score at 3-3 with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 win over Marcio Petrone. Barker improved to 10-0 in dual matches this spring.

At number five singles, the Owls' Cody Jackson faced a match point in the second set before rallying to defeat the Tar Heels' Greg Archer 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 and clinch the team match.

#49 Rice 4
#43 North Carolina 3

Singles

#1 Richard Barker (RU) def. Marcio Petrone (UNC) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1

#2 Nick Monroe (UNC) def. William Barker (RU) 6-2, 6-2

#3 Matthias Mathaes (RU) def. David Cheatwood (UNC) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6

#4 Trystan Meniane (UNC) def. Alexis Pourchet (RU) 7-6, 7-5

#5 Cody Jackson (RU) def. Greg Archer (UNC) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 *

#6 Fabien Giraud (RU) def. Chad Riley (UNC) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

#1. R. Barker/W. Barker (RU) def. Cheatwood/Monroe (UNC) 8-5

#3 Riley/Meniane (UNC) def. Rajevac/Jackson (RU) 8-4

* - clinched team victory