North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Maryland
Wolfpack Serves Up a 5-2 Win Over Maryland
4/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 6, 2003
Val Banada wasted little time in defeating his opponent in singles after a 6-2, 6-4 win over Troy Demers of Maryland as NC State won 5-2. Banada was off the court early, and saw his teammates fight their way to a victory. The Wolfpack's win was the first ACC triumph for NC State this season, and the first since 2001, also a win over the Terps. Banada also got the job done quickly in his doubles match at No. 2 as he teamed with fellow Florida native R.J. Murray to win 8-2 over Scott Peters and David Reichsfeld. Murray won his first set at No. 1 singles 6-3 before dropping Pierre Rudder 7-5 in the second set as the second singles match of the day ended.
NC State set the tone for the match during the three doubles matchups, with the Wolfpack winning two of the three matches for the point. Murray and Banada dominated their opponent, as they would later in singles. Jon Davis and WIll Shaw were doubles teammates for the first time, and they fought hard at No. 1 doubles before losing 9-7. Rehman Esmail and Chris Mills brought home the doubles point with a 9-7, come from behind victory that was clinched when Mills smashed a service ace on match point.
Mills would carry that "come-from-behind-to-win" success over into his match at No. 6 singles, as he dropped his first set 6-2 to Rory Theis of Maryland. The freshman walkon responded with an impressive 6-1 second set before finishing off Theis with a 6-2 third set.
Davis would clinch the match for the Wolfpack with a 6-4, third set victory after splitting his first two sets 6-3, 2-6 against Scott Peters. Rehman Esmail and Will Shaw were defeated on Sunday in their matches, falling and No. 4 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Esmail lost 7-5, 7-6 (5) while Shaw also lost narrowly, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
The Wolfpack will travel to East Carolina to face the Pirates Friday afternoon, before closing the season with home matches against Wake Forest and North Carolina.
NC State 5, Maryland 2Singles No. 1 R.J. Murray def. Pierre Rudder (UM) - 6-3, 7-5 No. 2 Val Banada def. Troy Demers (UM) - 6-2, 6-4 No. 3 Chris Chiu (UM) def. Will Shaw - 7-6 (5), 6-4 No. 4 David Reichsfeld (UM) def. Rehman Esmail - 7-5, 7-6 (5) No. 5 Jon Davis def. Scott Peters (UM) - 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 No. 6 Chris Mills def. Rory Theis (UM) - 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Doubles No. 1 Chiu/Demers (UM) def. Davis/Shaw - 9-7 No. 2 Banada/Murray def. Peters/Reichsfeld - 8-2 No. 3 Esmail/Mills def. Rudder/Chambers - 9-7
