Men's Tennis Upsets TCU 4-2

April 21, 2002

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The fifth-seeded University of Louisville men's tennis team upset top-seeded TCU Sunday in the third place match of the 2002 Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. The match was completed in four hours and 45 minutes, the longest contest of the tournament.

The Cardinals claimed the doubles point as Matt Mayer and Brent McCombe defeated Fabrizio Sestina and Danield Scholten 9-7 at No. 2. TCU's Toni Gordon and Chris Brandi outlasted Sebastian Aspillage and Paulo Carvalho 9-8 (7-4) at No. 3. Cody Conley and Octavian Nicodim edged Jacob Martin and Alex Menichini 9-8 (7-3) at No. 1 to clinch the doubles point.

In singles action, Mayer gave Louisville a 2-0 lead with his 6-4, 6-1 win over Menichini at No. 4. Scholten pulled the Horned Frogs within 2-1 with a 6-2, 7-5 decision over Alex Sivertsen at No. 5. TCU's Toni Gordon tied the match by defeating Conley 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1. Carvalho pulled the Cards ahead 3-2 with his 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Sestini at No. 2 and McCombe clinched the match, edging Willy Gali 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6.

"It is a great feeling to upset a team in last year's NCAA final four," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "TCU was head and shoulders favorite to come here and win this championship. This win gives us a glimmer of hope to make the NCAA tournament. Our guys peaked and played their best tennis in the last week of the season and I'm very proud of them."

Louisville (12-16) closes out the season with a third place finish in the league. TCU, ranked No. 26 in the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis rankings, is fourth in the final standings.

LOUISVILLE 4 - TCU 2No. 1 TCU           No. 5 Louisville    Winner  Score1.  Toni Gordon         Cody Conley             TCU    6-3, 7-52.  Fabrizio Sestini    Paulo Carvalho           UL 6-4, 3-6, 6-23.  Daniel Wajnberg Octavian Nicodim   DNF    7-5, 4-6, 6-64.  Alex Menichini  Matt Mayer           UL 6-4, 6-15.  Daniel Scholten Alex Sivertsen           TCU    6-2, 7-56.  Willy Gali          Brent McCombe             UL 5-7, 7-5, 6-4Doubles1D.  Jacob Martin/Menichini Conley/Nicodim   UL 9-8(7-3)2D.  Sestini/Scholten           Mayer/McCombe    UL 9-73D.  Gordon/Chris Brandi    Aspillaga/Carvalho  TCU 9-8(7-4)

University of Louisville Athletics

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