Oct. 13, 2000

RALEIGH, N.C. - Steve Perkins and Andrew Simpson of the Wake Forest men's tennis team got off to a bad start Friday at the 2000 North Carolina State Fall Invitational, but bounced back by day's end. Both playing in the B Flight Singles, Perkins and Simpson lost their first round matchups and were demoted to the consolation bracket. From there both Deacs picked up wins.

Simpson, a freshman from Raleigh, N.C., dropped 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 to Bruno Coelho from Liberty in the first round of Singles Flight B. In the consolation side of the bracket, Simpson defeated Justin Dimaio of Furman, 6-0, 6-1. Simpson will take on Maryland's Luan Nguyen on Saturday in the consolation semifinals.

Perkins, a late addition to the Wake Forest roster, lost his first round match in Singles Flight B, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 to Richard Dutton of Elon. Then he fought past Alexandre Girard from East Carolina 7-5, 6-3 in the consolation bracket. Perkins will face North Carolina Wilmington's Vitaliy Pereverzev Saturday in the consolation semifinals.

Simpson will join forces with teammate Richard Phillip on Saturday in Doubles Flight B. The Demon Deacon duo will take on a pair of Fighting Phoenix from Elon, Dutton and Robertson at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The NC State Fall Invitational continues all day Saturday and concludes Sunday, Oct. 15.