GREENSBORO, N.C. – In the inaugural NC showdown match, the UNCG men's tennis team fell behind 2-0 before a strong singles rally led to a 4-2 victory Wednesday at the UNCG Tennis Courts.

The Spartans improve to 10-5 on the season while Charlotte falls to 9-4 with the loss.

With the Blue and Gold leading 3-2, junior Randy Phillips (Snellville, Ga./Brookwood) clinched the match with a tough 6-3, 7-5 victory at No. 3 singles against Jordi Massalle Ferrer. Phillips won his fourth-straight match and improved to 12-3 on the season in singles.

UNCG dropped the doubles point to fall behind 1-0 in the match against the 49ers. Alex Calott and Nate Shanok took down Nazhone Wilkins (Burnsville, Minn./Homeschooled) and Jimmy Roueche (Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley) 8-3 at No. 3 doubles. Paul Cisti and Jack Williams clinched the point with a 8-5 win against Ahmet Sarioglu (Ankera, Turkey/METU Development Foundation) and Daniel Mack (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland) at No. 2 doubles.

At No. 1 doubles James Dougherty (Melbourne, Australia) and Phillips were tied 6-6 with Kamil Khalil and Jordi Massalle Ferrer when the point was decided.

Charlotte took a 2-0 lead after Cisti defeated junior Cameron Smith (Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale), 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6 singles. Sarioglu cut the lead to 2-1 after winning in straight sets against Forrest Edwards, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 singles.

Sophomore Gaston Murray (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista) tied the match at 2-2 with a straight sets win against Williams, 7-5, 6-4 at No. 4 singles. Murray battled to win the first set, 7-5 before winning the second set, 6-4.

Mack gave the Spartans a 3-2 lead after outlasting Calott, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), at No. 5 singles. Mack won a key second set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-1).

Dougherty went unfinished after playing two sets against Khalil, 7-5, 3-6 at No. 2 singles.

The Spartans will be back home Wednesday March 26 to take on regional rival Charlotte. The match is slated for 4 p.m. at the UNCG Tennis Courts.

Follow all the action about the 2013-14 UNCG men's tennis team on www.UNCGSpartans.com or on twitter @UNCGMTennis. 

-UNCG-