WOLFPACK BEATS AGGIES IN SPRING OPENER

RALEIGH, NC, January 21, 2006 -- Head tennis coach James Dunwoody believes he has a very special team that can do special things this season, so he wants to test his Aggies squad early.

Raleigh was the site of the test and it was the N.C. State Wolfpack providing the competition. The Aggies lost, but took some valuable lessons from facing a  tough ACC foe.

N.C. State took an early lead in the match, 1-0, after securing the doubles point with three combo wins. Sophomore Nick Cavaday and freshman Chris Welte drew back Damon Martin and Porter Myrick, 8-4, at No. 1, while junior William Noblitt and sophomore Ben Zink  took down Jared and Jeremy Martin, 8-1, at No. 2. Sophomore David Rozek and freshman Jay Weinacker won at No. 3 doubles, 8-1, over Londell Hartford and Vitas Hawley.

In singles, Welte finished first, taking care of Myrick at No. 3, 6-1, 6-1. At No. 4, Zink knocked off Jared Martin, 6-4, 6-2. Cavaday secured the team match point at No. 1 with a win over Martin, 6-4, 6-3.

At No. 2, junior Andre Iriarte dropped the first set before storming back to collect the match, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Sophomore Mason Schermerhorn defeated Quincy Hawley, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 5, before Rozek closed the door on Vitas Hawley, 6-0, 6-1.

The Aggies are back in action on Jan. 29 when they face another ACC competitor in the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, starting a 6 p.m. The women will have their season-opener at the same time and in the same location as they face the Lady Tar Heels.