May 26, 2006

STANFORD, CALIF. - North Carolina seniors Raian Luchici and Brad Pomeroy opened play in the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis doubles championship Thursday with a straight sets win over Tennessee's Adam Hubble and Ben Rogers 6-4, 6-3 at the Taube Tennis Stadium at Stanford University.

Luchici and Pomeroy, seeded fourth in the doubles competition, will continue play in the NCAA Round of 16 Friday against Markus Dickhardt and Benedikt Stronk of San Diego State. The Aztecs' duo defeated Aleksander Seleznev and Harel Syrgo of Old Dominion Thursday 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Three of the top eight seeded teams in doubles lost Thursday in the first round including top seeded Scott Green and Ross Wilson of Ohio State.