North Carolina
NCAA Regionals
Men's Tennis Advances to NCAA Regional Final
May 13, 2000 | Men's Tennis
May 13, 2000
KNOXVILLE, TENN. - The University of North Carolina men's tennis team, ranked No. 20 in the nation, defeated No. 46 Ball State in the first round of the NCAA tournament to secure a spot in Sunday's second round against No. 9-ranked Tennessee. The Volunteers, the regional hosts, defeated UT-Chattanooga 4-0 earlier Saturday in the other first round match.
The Tar Heels lost the doubles point, but rebounded to claim four victories in singles. Senior Tripp Phillips (No. 1), Assaf Drori (No. 2), Trystan Meniane (No. 5) and Chad Riley (No. 6) all posted straight set wins to account for the four North Carolina points. Phillips, the Tar Heel captain from Charlotte, N.C., defeated Ball State's Ryan Baxter 6-3, 7-5, while Drori, another senior captain for the Tar Heels from Jerusalem, Isreal, downed the Cardinals' Jason Pressel, 6-1, 7-5. Phillips is currently ranked 22nd nationally in men's singles and will play later this month in the individual NCAA Championships.
Carolina freshman Trystan Meniane of Martinique, France won his match at #5 singles as he defeated Edgardo Rivera 7-6, 6-2. Junior Chad Riley of Sugar Land, Texas was also a winner, downing Kevin Burnett 6-4, 6-1 at #6 singles. Junior David Cheatwood (Fayetteville, N.C.) and sophomore Marcio Petrone (Bairro, Meireles, Brazil) were also leading at positions three and four for the Tar Heels when play was stopped.
all State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by taking the doubles point. Eric Butorac and Chris Varga clinched the doubles point for the Cardinals with a 9-8 victory over freshman Tyne Brownlow (Memphis, Tenn.) and Petrone at the No. 3 position. Edgardo Rivera and Michael Westerhof won at No. 2 by an 8-4 count for the Cardinals' other doubles win.
The Tar Heels improved to 18-5 on the season with the victory, while Ball State ended its campaign at 18-9. North Carolina will play Tennessee at 1 p.m. EST Sunday for the right to advance to the NCAA Championships held in Athens, Ga. May 20-24. The Tar Heels have not advanced to the Final 16 of the NCAA Tournament since 1993.
NO. 20 NORTH CAROLINA 4, NO. 46 BALL STATE 1
SINGLES
1. No. 22 Tripp Phillips (UNC) def. Ryan Baxter (BSU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Assaf Drori (UNC) def. Jason Pressel (BSU) 6-1, 7-5
3. David Cheatwood (UNC) vs. Andrew Seni (BSU) suspended
4. Marcio Petrone (UNC) vs. Michael Westerhof (BSU) suspended
5. Trystane Meniane (UNC) def. Edgardo Rivera (BSU) 7-6, 6-2
6. Chad Riley (UNC) def. Kevin Burnett (BSU) 6-4, 6-1
DOUBLES
1. Cheatwood/Phillips (UNC) def. No. 49 Baxter/Pressel (BSU) 8-6
2. Rivera/Westerhof (BSU) def. Drori/Archer (UNC) 8-3
3. Burtorac/Varga (BSU) def. Brownlow/Petrone (UNC) 9-8
Records: North Carolina 18-5, Ball State 18-9
Players Mentioned
