Comeback Pack Falls to UNCW, 4-3

RALEIGH, N.C. – The No. 25 NC State men's tennis team fell to UNC-Wilmington 4-3 Thursday afternoon at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. The match is NC State's first home defeat of the year, snapping an eighth-match home winning streak.

The Wolfpack fell behind 3-0, but came back and pulled within a point of the Seahawks. Wilmington earned a late winner on court six in the third set to take the overall match.

The win is UNCW's second win over an ACC opponent this season. The Seahawks defeated Miami, 4-1 earlier in the year.

Match Recap:
UNCW struck first, earning the doubles point with wins on courts one and two. The Seahawks clinched the match in the tiebreak on court one. The match on court three was deadlocked at 6-6 (6-6) when it was abandoned.

The Seahawks continued its run in singles, taking the first set on courts three-six. Wilmington added its second and third points with victories over Shoti Meparidze and Ivan Saveljic to extend its lead to 3-0.

Wilmignton looked to have full control of the match after it led or was tied on each court.

However, Thomas Weigel pulled a point back for NC State, winning in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, and fellow captain Nick Horton added another point with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles.

NC State's comeback continued as Igor Saveljic clawed back into his match on court six, winning the second set and going serve-for-serve with Andres Torres. The comeback attempt ended, as Torres escaped with a 7-5 win the third set.

Simon Norenius concluded the match at No. 1 singles with a three-set win over Santtu Leskinen, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2.
Tennis Match Results
UNCW vs NC State
Feb 25, 2016 at Raleigh, N.C. (J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
UNCW 4, #25 NC State 3
1. #83 Simon Norenius (ST) def. Santtu Leskinen (UNCW) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2
2. #72 Nick Horton (ST) def. C. Van der Burgh (UNCW) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
3. Thomas Weigel (ST) def. Javier Restrepo (UNCW) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
4. Agustin Savarino (UNCW) def. Ivan Saveljic (ST) 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
5. Aviv Ben Shabat (UNCW) def. Shoti Meparidze (ST) 6-3, 6-2
6. Andres Torres (UNCW) def. Igor Saveljic (ST) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5

1. Xander Veys/Javier Restrepo (UNCW) def. Igor Saveljic/Ivan Saveljic (ST) 7-6 (7-4)
2. C. Van der Burgh/Aviv Ben Shabat (UNCW) def. Simon Norenius/Nick Horton (ST) 6-2
3. Thomas Weigel/Shoti Meparidze (ST) vs. Santtu Leskinen/Agustin Savarino (UNCW) 6-6 (6-6), unfinished
Match Notes:
UNCW 3-3
NC State 10-3; National ranking #25
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,4,3,2,6,1) A-79

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Players Mentioned

Nick Horton

Simon Norenius

Igor Saveljic

Ivan Saveljic

Thomas Weigel