March 14, 2006

Winston-Salem, NC - The 31st-ranked Wake Forest men's tennis team captured a victory in its ACC opener with a 5-2 win against 22nd-ranked NC State on a windy, chilly Tuesday afternoon and early evening at Leighton Tennis Stadium.

The Deacons (8-4, 1-0 ACC) got off on the right foot by earning the doubles point, though it wasn't without some drama. NC State won at number two doubles, 8-6, over Mariusz Adamski and Cory Parr, forcing Wake Forest to win at number one and number three. The Deacons did just that. 46th-ranked Todd Paul and Andrew Hamar won in the top spot, 9-7. Literally seconds later, Brett Ross and Charles Sartor sealed the doubles point with a 9-7 victory of their own.

In singles, Wake Forest dropped three first sets and it looked like the match would not be decided until the No. 6 players took the court. Hamar and Parr, playing No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, followed through with straight set wins. NC State's William Noblitt defeated Brett Ross at No. 4, 7-6, 6-2.

After losing the first set, Paul, the nation's 10th-ranked player, turned the tables at No. 1 singles. He rallied to win the second set, 6-3, and looked to capture the team victory in the third set. That appeared to be a certainly when Paul broke 63rd-ranked Nick Cavaday to go ahead 5-3. Paul had the opportunity to serve out the match, but Cavaday did not fold, getting back on serve at 5-4. Paul had no intention of letting the match go any further. For the second straight time, Paul broke Cavaday to pull out a three-set victory and the team win for the Deacons.

Meanwhile, on court five, Mariusz Adamski also posted a come from behind, three-set victory. He won 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3. NC State won at No. 6 where Jay Winacker defeated Wake Forest's Charles Sartor, 6-3, 7-5.

NC State lost for only the third time this year, falling to 14-3 and 0-2 in the league. Wake Forest leads the all-time series with Wolfpack 34-7, including wins in the last seven meetings.

The Deacons return to action next Tuesday in Chapel Hill against North Carolina.

#31 Wake Forest 5, #22 NC State 2
#1 - #10 Todd Paul (WF) vs. #63 Nick Cavaday (NCST)
     WF -- 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
#2 - #76 Andrew Hamar (WF) vs. Andre Iriate (NCST)
     WF -- 6-2, 6-2
#3 - Cory Parr (WF) vs. Val Banada (NCST)
     WF -- 6-1, 7-5
#4 - Brett Ross (WF) vs. William Noblitt (NCST)    
     NCST -- 7-6, 6-2
#5 - Mariusz Adamski (WF) vs. Will Shaw (NCST)
     WF -- 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3
#6 - Charles Sartor (WF) vs. Jay Weinacker (NCST)    
     NCST -- 6-3, 7-5
#1 - #46 Hamar/Paul (WF) vs. Shaw/Iriate (NCST)
     WF -- 9-7
#2 - Adamski/Parr (WF) vs. Zink/Noblitt (NCST)    
     NCST -- 8-6
#3 - Ross/Sartor (WF) vs. Cavaday/Weinacker (NCST)
     WF -- 9-7

WF: (8-4, 1-0)
NCST: (14-3, 0-2)