Pack Sweeps Season-Opening Doubleheader

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State men's tennis team opened its 2019 season with a pair of wins as it defeated visiting Northwestern and Campbell Sunday at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. The Wolfpack did not drop a match on the way to beating the Wildcats 4-0 and sweeping the Camels 7-0.

"What a fantastic day of tennis for us," said head coach Kyle Spencer. "I felt that they guys did a great job of being professional, enjoying their tennis. We played two really good teams, and I'm excited to get two wins but more excited to see how much we continue to improve. I'm excited to get back on the practice courts after a day off tomorrow and get back at it before we leave for Michigan."

NC STATE 4, NORTHWESTERN 0
The Wolfpack opened its 2019 season with a strong start in doubles, taking two quick decisions on courts one and two.

Igor Saveljic and Ivan Saveljic cruised past Dominik Stary and Chris Ephron and picked up the 6-1 win, and Alexis Galarneau and Michael Ogden secured the doubles point for NC State with a 6-3 win over Nick Brookes and Simen Bratholm.

Igor kept the Pack's momentum going into singles action, picking up a quick 6-2, 6-0 win over Dominik Stary to extend NC State's lead to 2-0.

Yannai Barkai tallied a singles win in his first match as a member of the Wolfpack, defeating Chris Ephron in straight sets. His 6-3, 6-4 victory put NC State a match away from the clinch.

Galarneau and Tadas Babelis both found themselves a game away from earning the Pack's deciding fourth win, but it was ultimately Babelis who took the 7-5, 6-4 win over Simon Bratholm to secure NC State's first match of the day.

NC STATE 7, CAMPBELL 0
The Pack also gained an early lead in its second match of the day and picked up the doubles point against the Camels. Pairing up for the first time, Igor and Barkai allowed the Wildcats to hold serve just once on the way to defeating Gerard Sola and Louis Monterosso by a 6-1 score.

On court two, Babelis and Georgiy Malyshev went up a break at 3-2 and stayed in the lead for the remainder of their match. They won over Campbell's Bastien Huon and Ondrej Labik to give the Wolfpack the opening point.

Igor was once again the first member of the Wolfpack to claim a singles win. He gutted out a three-set victory over Bastien Huon, winning 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 to take his second singles match of the day.

Moments later, Galarneau picked up the first win of his junior campaign in straight sets, beating Dustin Werner 6-1, 7-6 (7) to bring NC State a match away from the win.

It was Barkai who picked up the 6-2, 7-5 win over Gerard Sola on court four to seal the deal for the Pack.

Babelis won a three-setter to add to the Pack's score, beating Raphael Calzi 7-6 (2), 0-6, 6-2.

Play continued on courts five and six, where Robert Turzak won 6-1, 6-1 over Fernando Clemente and Malyshev won 6-2, 7-6 (6) against Ted Williams to put the final tally at 7-0 in favor of NC State.

UP NEXT:
The Pack heads to Ann Arbor, Mich. for ITA Kick-Off Weekend from Jan. 26-27. As the No. 4 seed in the regional, NC State will match up against host and No. 1 seed Michigan at 10 a.m. on Jan. 26 and will face either Georgia or Baylor the next day. The team from the regional that wins both of its matches on the weekend will advance to the ITA Division I National Men's Team Indoor Championship.

RESULTS:
NC State 4, Northwestern 0
Doubles results
Order of finish: (2, 1)
1. Alexis Galarneau/Michael Ogden (NC State) def. Nick Brookes/Simen Bratholm (Northwestern) 6-3
2. Igor Saveljic/Ivan Saveljic (NC State) def. Dominik Stary/Chris Ephron (Northwestern) 6-1
3. Georgiy Malyshev/Tadas Babelis (NC State) vs. Antonioni Fasano/Trice Pickens (Northwestern) 4-4, unfinished

Singles Results
Order of finish: (2, 4, 3)
1. Alexis Galarneau (NC State) vs. Nick Brookes (Northwestern) 7-6 (7), 5-4, unfinished
2. Igor Saveljic (NC State) def. Dominik Stary (Northwester) 6-2, 6-0
3. Tadas Babelis (NC State) def. Simen Bratholm (Northwestern) 7-5, 6-4
4. Yannai Barkai (NC State) def. Chris Ephron (Northwestern) 6-3, 6-4
5. Georgiy Malyshev (NC State) vs. Antonioni Fasano (Northwestern) 2-1, unfinished
6. Ivan Saveljic (NC State) vs. Trice Pickens (Northwestern) unfinished

NC State 7, Campbell 0
Doubles results
Order of finish: (3, 2)
1. Alexis Galarneau/Michael Ogden (NC State) vs. Dustin Werner/Raphael Calzi (Campbell) 5-5, unfinished
2. Tadas Babelis/Georgiy Malyshev (NC State) def. Bastien Huon/Ondrej Labik (Campbell) 6-4
3. Igor Saveljic/Yannai Barkai (NC State) def. Gerard Sola/Louis Monterosso (Campbell) 6-1

Singles Results
Order of finish: (3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 6)
1. Alexis Galarneau (NC State) def. Dustin Werner (Campbell) 6-1, 7-6 (7)
2. Tadas Babelis (NC State) def. Raphael Calzi (Campbell) 7-6 (2), 0-6, 6-2
3. Igor Saveljic (NC State) def. Bastien Huon (Campbell) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
4. Yannai Barkai (NC State) def. Gerard Sola (Campbell) 6-2, 7-5
5. Robert Turzak (NC State) def. Fernando Clemente (Campbell) 6-1, 6-1
6. Georgiy Malyshev (NC State) def. Ted Williams (Campbell) 6-2, 7-6 (6)

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Players Mentioned

Tadas Babelis

Yannai Barkai

Alexis Galarneau

Georgiy Malyshev

Michael Ogden

Igor Saveljic

Ivan Saveljic

Robert Turzak