North Carolina
Florida State
UNC Men's Tennis Team Clinches Share Of ACC Regular Season Title
April 10, 2004 | Men's Tennis
April 10, 2004
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. - The No. 14 North Carolina men's tennis team clinched a share of its first Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championship since 1996 Saturday as the Tar Heels defeated No. 33 Florida State 5-2 at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center. Sophomore Brad Pomeroy had the clinching win for the Tar Heels as he rallied from a set down for the seventh time this season to secure a singles victory.
The last time Carolina finished atop the ACC regular season standings was 1996 when UNC finished 8-0 and won the title outright. UNC finished the season 7-1 in the ACC this year and will finish in a tie with either No. 5 Duke or No. 15 Virginia. Those two plays Sunday in Charlottesville, Va. and both are currently 6-1 in the ACC. The winner will tie the Tar Heels for the top spot in the league.
UNC improved to 21-3 overall with the win and 7-1 in the ACC. Florida State is 10-10 overall and 3-5 in the ACC. The 21 regular season wins are the most by UNC since the Tar Heels went 21-4 in the regular season in its 1992 ACC championship season. Carolina's next match will be in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals next Saturday at the Millbrook Exchange Park in Raleigh, N.C.
"I am very proud to beat Florida State on the road. It is a tough place to play. Florida State is a lot better than their record and ranking would indicate," said Coach Sam Paul. "I reminded our guys that FSU plays well at home and that Florida State had beaten Duke earlier this year down here."
Carolina went up 1-0 after claiming the doubles point for the 19th time this season in 24 matches. Nick Monroe and Geoff Boyd, ranked No. 13, downed the No. 19 team of Chris Westerhoff and Jeff Groslimond at the top spot 8-3 while FSU claimed the No. 2 spot in a tiebreaker. The point was decided at No. 3 where Jonathan Janda and Raian Luchici defeated Chip Webb and Joe Bassett 9-7. UNC is 18-1 when winning the doubles point this year, only losing to Duke.
UNC made the score 2-0 as junior Geoff Boyd won at No. 5 over Bassett 7-6, 6-0. Boyd is 21-1 in dual matches this spring, 8-0 in ACC play. He has won 12 in a row since suffering his only dual match loss to Ben Atkinson of South Carolina in three sets on March 2. It was Boyd's 30th singles win overall in 2003-04.
Florida State closed to 2-1 as Chris Westerhof rallied past Andy Metzler at No. 2 singles 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. In a battle of nationally-ranked players, UNC's No. 32 Nick Monroe beat No. 18 Mat Cloer 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 to make it 3-1 Carolina. Monroe improved to 31-8 overall with the victory. He has beaten four players ranked in the Top 25 this year and ranks in a tie for third in total singles victories in UNC history with Tripp Phillips behind only David Caldwell and Paul Harsanyi. Monroe is 95-42 in his career in singles play.
Florida State remained alive as Jeff Groslimond won over Carolina's Derek Porter 7-6, 6-4 at No. 3. But Carolina persevered for the win. Brad Pomeroy won a three-set match over Joao Paolo Bounassar at No. 6 to clinch the win for UNC and then Raian Luchici finished up a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Chip Webb at No. 4 singles. The wins improved Pomeroy to 28-5 and Luchici to 25-8 on the season in singles play.
No. 14 North Carolina 5, No. 33 Florida State 2
Doubles (Point goes to UNC)
1. #13 Nick Monroe / Geoff Boyd (UNC) d. #19 Chris Westerhof / Jeff Groslimond (FSU) 8-3
2. Mat Cloer / Jonathas Sucupira (FSU) d. Andy Metzler / Brad Pomeroy (UNC) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Jonathan Janda / Raian Luchici (UNC) d. Chip Webb / Joe Bassett (FSU) 9-7
Singles
1. #32 Nick Monroe (UNC) d. #18 Mat Cloer (FSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Chris Westerhof (FSU) d. Andy Metzler (UNC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Jeff Groslimond (FSU) d. Derek Porter (UNC) 7-6 (5), 6-4
4. Raian Luchici (UNC) d. Chip Webb (FSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
5. Geoff Boyd (UNC) d. Joe Bassett (FSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
6. Brad Pomeroy (UNC) d. Joao Paolo Bounassar (FSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Records: UNC 21-3, ACC 7-1; FSU 10-10, ACC 3-5
Players Mentioned
