January 30, 1999

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Tar Heel men's tennis team got their season off to a good start today, defeating first Campbell and then Davidson 6-1 in dual action at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

In doubles play against the Fighting Campbell Camels, Carolina swept all three matches. Carolina's Bjorn Rencken and Assaf Drori defeated Milan Bucko and Andreas Mardbrink 8-2 in #1 doubles. At #2, David Cheatwood and Ben Elix defeated Campbell's Xinning Li and Julian Tejacla 8-5. Chad Riley and Mike Grass clinched the doubles point for the Tar Heels with an 8-3 win over Matt Edwards and James Grcic.

Carolina's young singles lineup started four squad newcomers. Assaf Drori, Ben Elix and Chad Riley all won their dual debuts in singles at #3, #4 and #5 respectively. Andreas Mardbrink scored the only point for Campbell, getting a three set victory over UNC's Rencken 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in #1 singles. It was Rencken's first dual start for Carolina. Tar Heel veterans David Cheatwood and Aron Breziner also scored singles wins for the Tar Heels at #2 and #6.

After dropping the doubles point to Davidson in the second match of the day, the Tar Heels fought back to win all six singes matches.

Rencken defeated Brett Ialacci 6-4, 6-2 at the #1 singles spot. Alex Okulski of Davidson lost 3-6, 0-6 to Carolina's David Cheatwood. At #3 singles, Assaf Drori won a tough match against Davidon's Whit Hansen 7-5, 6-4. Senior Mike Grass defeated Scott Briggs 6-1, 6-3 at #4. Grass did not play in morning action against Campbell due to a shoulder injury. Elix and Riley won at the #5 and #6 positions, defeating Davidson's Chad Winebarger and Paul Wulfsberg.

The two wins move the Heels to a 2-0 record overall. They will face UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Asheville in another double-header February 2nd in Chapel Hill.

Campbell v UNC

Singles
1. Andreas Mardbrink (CU) d. Bjorn Rencken 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
2. David Cheatwood (UNC) d. Julian Tejaclea 6-0, 6-3
3. Assaf Drori (UNC) d. Milan Bucko 6-1, 6-1
4. Ben Elix (UNC) d. Xinning Li 6-1, 6-1
5. Chad Riley (UNC) d. James Grcic 6-3, 6-2
6. Aron Breziner (UNC) d. Matt Edwards 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

1. Drori/Rencken (UNC) d. Bucko/Mardbrink 8-2
2. Cheatwook/Elix (UNC) d. Li/Tejada 8-5
3. Mike Grass/Riley (UNC) d. Edwards/Grcic 8-3

Davidson v.UNC

Singles

1. Bjorn Rencken (UNC) d. Brett Ialacci 6-4, 6-2
2. David Cheatwood (UNC) d. Alex Okulski 6-3, 6-0
3. Assaf Drori (UNC) d. Whit Hansen 7-5, 6-4
4. Mike Grass (UNC) d. Scott Briggs 6-1,6-3
5. Ben Elix (UNC) d. Chad Winebarger 6-3,6-2
6. Chad Riley (UNC) d. Paul Wulfsberg 6-3, 7-5

Doubles

1  Briggs/Jason Sutherland (Davidson) d. Drori/Rencken  8-5
2. Cheatwood/Elix (UNC) d. Tyler Epp/Okulski 8-4
4. Ialacci/Wulfsbert (Davidson) d. Grass/Riley 8-3