FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-3-03

2003 Mid-Atlantic Regional Final: No. 4 North Florida 5, No. 15 AASU 0

Release Courtesy of North Florida Sports Information

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The University of North Florida men's tennis team rallied in doubles then coasted to a 5-0 victory over Armstrong Atlantic State University Saturday at the UNF Tennis Complex to win the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16.

The No. 1 doubles team of Elliot Wood and Miguel Angelo Mariano fought back from a 6-3 deficit to win a super tiebreaker 9-8 (7-3). Their victory gave the Ospreys (18-4) a 3-0 advantage and they won easily.

The seniors came through in singles play for UNF as Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year David Olave clinched the match. The No. 2-ranked player in Division II defeated David Secker 6-1, 6-2.

Team captain Jesse McIntyre grabbed the Ospreys fourth point with a 6-3, 1-0 (retired) victory.

The Ospreys will play the winner of the University of California San Diego versus Hawaii Pacific match at the NCAA Division II National Championships. The 16 regional winners will travel to Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla. to decide the 2003 champion. AASU ends their season at 12-12, with all 12 losses coming to teams ranked in the Top 20.

- Pirates -

2003 Mid-Atlantic Regional - Championship Match

North Florida 5, AASU 0
Singles
#1 - David Olave (UNF) def. David Secker (AASU) 6-1, 6-2
#2 - Roger Thiele (AASU) and Elliot Wood (UNF) did not finish
#3 - Achim Roth (AASU) and Jose Terrera (UNF) did not finish
#4 - Dale White (AASU) and Sheldon Simpson (UNF) did not finish
#5 - Jonas Askeland (AASU) and Damien De Polignac (UNF) did not finish
#6 - Jesse McIntyre (UNF) def. Tim Offermann (AASU) 6-3, 1-0, retired

Doubles
#1 - Wood/Angelo (UNF) def. Roth/White (AASU) 9-8 (7-3)
#2 - Olave/McIntyre (UNF) def. Offermann/Thiele (AASU) 8-2
#3 - Terrera/Simpson (UNF) def. Askeland/Secker (AASU) 8-6
Records: AASU (12-12), UNF (18-4)