April 5, 2013
THE FLATS – – Juan Spir continued his winning streak on Friday afternoon in Atlanta, but despite his hot racket Georgia Tech lost to North Carolina, 5-2, Friday afternoon at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
The Tar Heels improved to 8-10 (1-4 ACC) this season, while the Jackets fell to 8-11 (1-5 ACC).
Spir, a senior who will play at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex for the last time on Senior Day versus Duke Sunday, defeated Vick 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2 and has now won three singles matches in a row. Sophomore Eduardo Segura also locked down a singles win for the Jackets, with Segura defeating the only Tar Heel with a winning singles record on the season in William Parker 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, .
North Carolina won the doubles point when Yellow Jacket freshman Nathan Rakitt and senior Juan Melian couldn’t find a way past 38th ranked singles player Esbern Hess-Oleson and his Tarheel partner Brett Clark at No 2. Tech’s Colin Edwards and Garrett Gordon fell 8-2 to UNC’s Oystein Steiro and Andrew Gores at the No. 3 slot. Spir and sophomore Eduardo Segura went point for point with the Tarheel team of Vick and Parker at no. 1. The match was left unfinished at 7-7.
Melian would face Hess-Oleson again in singles at no. 1 but couldn’t get the better of the rematch, losing 6-3, 6-2 to give the Tar Heels their second point. After Spir defeated Vick at No. 2, the Tar Heels’ Brett Clark finished off a straight-set win over Tech freshman Nathan Rakitt for a 3-1 UNC lead.
Oystein Steiro earned the clinching point for North Carolina with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Anish Sharma.
The Yellow Jackets have Saturday off before facing Duke at their home venue on Sunday. The Blue Devils are ranked 9th in the nation, and come to town on Georgia Tech’s Senior Day. Juan Melian and Juan Spir will be honored following the completion of the doubles competition, and the match begins at 12 noon.
North Carolina 5, Georgia Tech 2Apr 05, 2013 at Atlanta, Ga., Ken Byers Tennis Complex
Singles competition 1. #38 Esben Hess-Olesen (NC) def. Juan Melian (GT) 6-3, 6-2 2. Juan Spir (GT) def. Nelson Vick (NC) 6-3, 7-5 3. Brett Clark (NC) def. Nathan Rakitt (GT) 6-3, 6-4 4. Eduardo Segura (GT) def. William Parker (NC) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) 5. Oystein Steiro (NC) def. Anish Sharma (GT) 7-5, 6-2 6. Stuart DePaolo (NC) def. Colin Edwards (GT) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles competition 1. Juan Spir/Eduardo Segura (GT) vs. Nelson Vick/William Parker (NC) 7-7, unfinished 2. Esben Hess-Olesen/Brett Clark (NC) def. Nathan Rakitt/Juan Melian (GT) 9-7 3. Oystein Steiro/Andrew Gores (NC) def. Colin Edwards/Garrett Gordon (GT) 8-2
Match Notes: North Carolina 8-10, 1-4 ACC Georgia Tech 8-11, 1-5 ACC Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,2,3,5,6,4) T-3:50
