Men's Tennis Upsets No. 19 North Carolina 4-2

 
Van Damrongsri


Van Damrongsri

Feb. 2, 2013

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of Louisville men's tennis team upset host No. 19 North Carolina 4-2 Saturday evening.

"I really felt that even though we lost a close match against Wake Forest yesterday, our team was playing better," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "I knew this team was capable of beating a top team but did not turn on the mental switch. Coach DaSilva put them through some mental rehearsal and I stressed being relaxed and enjoying the moment."

The Cardinals opened the match by taking a highly competitive doubles point. Sophomore Luis Elizondo and freshman Jeffrey Brown edged Maik Ulrich and Nelson Vick 8-7 at No. 3. North Carolina tied it up at the No. 2 spot where Brett Clark and William Parker outlasted sophomores Van Damrongsri and Sebastian Stiefelmeyer. Louisville's 31st ranked duo of sophomore Albert Wagner and freshman Alex Gornet topped Esben Hess- Olesen and Oysteing Steiro 8-7 to clinch the first point.

I have never been a part of a doubles point when all three courts were in tiebreakers," said Ecarma. "Number 1 and 2 doubles were both down big and came back to win in front of a big crowd."

In singles action, the Tarheels tied the score at the top seed where No. 18 Esben Hess-Olesen defeated No. 82 Sebastian Stiefelmeyer. North Carolina pulled ahead 2-1 at the No. 4 seed where No. 102 William Parker beat sophomore Michael Lippens 6-0, 7-5.

 

 

Wagner evened the score for the Cards with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 58 Nelson Vick at the No.. 2 position. Gornet put Louisville back on top when he defeated Steiro 7-6, 6-1 at No. 5. The match was decided on court six where sophomore Van Damrongsri topped Taylor Meyer 6-4, 7-5.

"Albert played spectacular for our second point, Alex got our third then Van clinched for the upset," said Ecarma. "I am so happy for these guys to win against a program that had won two dozen ACC Championships."

Louisville (4-4) will wrap up its eight-match road swing in Minneapolis, Minn., where the Cards will face Minnesota on Feb. 8 and Boise State on Feb. 10.

#41 Louisville 4, #19 North Carolina 2
Feb 2, 2013 at Chapel Hill, N.C.
(Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #18 Esben Hess-Olesen (NC) def. #82 Sebastian Stiefelmeyer (LOU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Albert Wagner (LOU) def.#58 Nelson Vick (NC) 6-2, 6-3
3.#57 Brett Clark (NC) vs. Chris Simich (LOU) 6-4, 3-6, unfinished
4. #102 William Parker (NC) def. Michael Lippens (LOU) 6-0, 7-5
5. Alex Gornet (LOU) def. Oystein Steiro (NC) 7-6, 6-1
6. Van Damrongsri (LOU) def. Taylor Meyer (NC) 6-4, 7-5
Order of Finish: #1, #4, #2, #5, #6*

Doubles
1. Alex Gornet/Albert Wagner (LOU) def. Esben Hess-Olesen/Oystein Steiro (NC) 8-7
2. Brett Clark/William Parker (NC) def. Van Damrongsri/Sebastian Stiefelmeyer (LOU) 8-7
3. Jeffrey Brown/Luis Elizondo (LOU) def. Maik Ulrich/Nelson Vick (NC) 8-7

Order of Finish:: #3, #2, #1

Match Notes:
Louisville 4-4; National ranking #41
North Carolina 3-2; National ranking #19
A-300

    Big East NCAA University of Louisville
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