March 9, 2013

Men's Tennis Hosts Wofford Saturday

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG men's tennis program will face its second Southern Conference opponent this season when it hosts Wofford, Saturday, March 9, at the UNCG tennis courts at 12 p.m.

"We need to come out energized tomorrow and play with passion, said head coach Thomas Mozur. "Wofford always plays us well. We need to be focused."

The Spartans hold a 5-0 record so far this season and are 1-0 in the SoCon after taking down The Citadel, 7-0, last Saturday at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center.

At No. 2 doubles, freshman Daniel Mack (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland) and junior Ahmet Sarioglu(Ankara, Turkey/METU Development Foundation) teamed up to beat Peter Bleach and Dillon Berkabile, 8-3.

Sophomore Cameron Smith (Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale) and freshman Gaston Murray (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista) clinched the point with a tough, 9-8 (7-3), tiebreaker victory against Alex Howie and Elliot Sperr at No. 3 doubles.

The final doubles match saw freshman James Dougherty (Melbourne, Australia) and sophomore Randy Phillips(Snellville, Ga./Brookwood) rally from a 7-1 deficit to tie the match at 7-7. In the tiebreaker, Dougherty and Phillips used that momentum to take down Oliver Dedding and David Orces 7-3 to win the match 8-7 at No. 1 doubles.

In singles play, the Spartans continued their solid play as Dougherty took down Berkabile, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.

Sarioglu won in straight sets against Orces, who was previously 4-1 at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4. Murray won easily at No. 3 singles against Bleach, 6-4, 6-0.

Smith defeated Sperr, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles, while Phillips won in straight sets against JC Pauli, 6-2, 6-3.

Mack gave UNCG a perfect sweep by taking down James Atkinson, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 5 singles.

Wofford holds a 2-6 record after falling to Georgia Southern, 6-1, last Saturday, landing the Terriers 0-1 in SoCon competition.

- UNCG -