April 15, 2002

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Coach Sam Paul's University of North Carolina men's tennis team will continue its brilliant 2002 season this Friday when it plays in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship at Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C.

The 25th-ranked Tar Heels have earned the #2 seed in this year's tournament. Carolina will play its first match at 12 noon on Friday. UNC must wait until Thursday to know its opponent. #7 seed Virginia plays #8 seed Maryland Thursday at 10 a.m. to determine which squad will advance to play the Tar Heels on Friday.

Carolina beat Maryland 7-0 and Virginia 6-1 during regular season play.

UNC (16-5 overall, 7-1 ACC) has now finished first, second or third in the ACC every year since 1989 with the exception of 1999 when the Heels took fifth in the league.

A win on Friday would put the Tar Heels into the semifinals on Saturday at 1p.m. against the winner of Friday's quarterfinal match between #3 seed Wake Forest and #6 seed Clemson.

The ACC championship match is Sunday at 11 a.m.