March 19, 1999

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - North Carolina's 58th-ranked men's tennis bounced back into the win column on Friday afternoon, defeating Middle Tennessee State 4-2 in a consolation bracket quarterfinal match at the Blue-Gray Tennis Championships in Montgomery, Ala.

Carolina captured the doubles point Friday to stake itself to a 1-0 lead in the match with the Blue Raiders. The Tar Heels went on to clinch the win with victories in singles play senior Michael Grass at #1, sophomore David Cheatwood at #3 and freshman Ben Elix at #6.

The Tar Heels will continue play in the Blue-Gray Classic on Saturday when they face the winner of today's consolation match between Auburn and William & Mary which is being played later this afternoon. The UNC-William & Mary/Auburn match will be played at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

#58 NORTH CAROLINA 4, MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 2

SINGLES
1. Michael Grass (UNC) d. Matt Walker (MTSU), 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
2 Assaf Drori (UNC) vs. Robert Gustafsson (MTSU), Did Not Finish
3. David Cheatwood (UNC) d. Mehdi Belbacha (MTSU), 7-6, (8-6), 6-4
4. Oliver Forman (MTSU) d. Aron Breziner (UNC), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
5. Shayne Podbury (MTSU) d. Bjorn Rencken (UNC), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Ben Elix (UNC) d. Michael Chamberlain (MTSU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

DOUBLES
(Played before singles, team winning majority of matches earns one team point)
1. Aron Breziner/David Cheatwood (UNC) d. Michael Chamberlain/Mehdi Belbacha (MTSU), 9-7
2. Michael Grass/Ben Elix (UNC) d. Shayne Podbury/Matt Walker (MTSU), 8-5
3. Oliver Foreman/Mark Pellerin (MTSU) d. Assaf Drori/Bjorn Rencken (UNC), 8-1

RECORDS: North Carolina 7-7, Middle Tennessee State 4-8