Men's Tennis Beats 49ers, Looks Ahead to Texas Trip

Chad Riley was excited.

Excited about the North Carolina tennis team's 6-1 victory against UNC-Charlotte on Monday and excited about a chance to play college tennis back in his home state of Texas.

The Tar Heels (4-3) face a trio of teams from the Lone Star state starting Saturday against Texas, Rice and Texas A&M.

But the thought of going back home for Riley had to wait until after Monday afternoon's match against the 49ers. It was a wait that didn't last long, as UNC won five singles matches after narrowly winning the doubles point.

"They beat South Florida two days after (South Florida) beat us," UNC coach Sam Paul said. "But we've been getting better and had good practices coming into this match."

Doubles gave the Tar Heels an early edge Monday, as Nicholas Monroe and David Cheatwood fought back to get a 9-8 (10) win at the

No. 1 spot. Down two breaks and facing a 3-6 deficit, Monroe and Cheatwood reeled off four straight games for a 7-6 lead. The 49ers then held serve to force a tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, UNC's duo put together an intense volleying effort to force Charlotte's Ola Jonsson and Thomas Oggeson into a baseline game and win 12-10.

Paul said he was certain that Cheatwood's senior leadership could give his doubles team the close win.

"We weren't real pleased to be down two breaks and in that spot," Paul said. "But we felt good with David on the court because he's been in big matches before and won."

Trystan Meniane teamed with Riley to notch a 8-5 win in No. 3 doubles, giving the Tar Heels the second doubles match and the day's opening point.

Greg Archer made his No. 5 singles contest with UNC-C's David Bolin look easy with a 6-2, 6-0 win to start UNC's string of five singles victories.

"I think his strength was the serve-and-volley game, and my strength is the return," Archer said. "So I tried to keep him on the baseline and open up the court."

Monroe upped his singles mark to

7-0 this spring in another comeback performance, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 against Jacob Nordwall at No. 2 singles. It was Monroe's first match at the No. 2 position.

Riley's homecoming this coming week will involve some stiff competition, as Texas and Texas A&M are both ranked in the ITA's Top 10. Rice, despite being ranked No. 49, remains undefeated on the season.

Riley's hometown of Sugar Land is within two hours of all three of UNC's matches in Texas.

"I know some people at all the schools and a bunch of people at Rice," said Riley, who won also won his singles match Monday. "My girlfriend and my parents and her parents will be at the matches, so I hope to do well."

 

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.