Sept. 14, 2002

FAIRFAX, Va. - North Carolina A&T edged George Mason 4-3 in collegiate men's tennis action Saturday afternoon at the GMU Tennis Courts. The Patriots open the 2002-03 season with a loss and fall to 0-1 overall.

On a cloudy but humid day, Mason claimed the doubles point and held a 3-2 lead with two singles matches remaining. Mason's No. 1 singles player Tito Ballester (Jr., Lima, Peru/Winthrop) won the first set 6-3, but had to suffer through muscle cramps for the remainder of the contest, allowing his competitor to rally and win the second and third sets, 6-4, 6-3. At No. 6 singles, senior Jorge Ramallo (Arlington, VA/Milton Academy) also lost in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 2-6, giving the Aggies the win.

Sophomore Tim Bainton (Chobham Surrey, UK) won at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-2 and freshman Stephan Dufils (Paris, France/Heritage Academy) claimed a 6-0, 6-3 win at #3. Senior Cem Akalin (Goetzingen, Luxembourg) and sophomore David Cornelius (Woodbridge, VA/Gar-field) fell at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

George Mason takes a week off before competing in the D.C. Metro Championships, Sept. 26-29, at Georgetown.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T 4, GEORGE MASON 3
(at GMU Tennis Courts, 9/14/02)
Singles
#1 Damon Martin d. Tito Ballester (GM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
#2 Tim Bainton (GM) d. C. Davis 6-2, 6-2
#3 Stephan Dufils (GM) d. Porter Myrick 6-0, 6-3
#4 Justin Reid d. Cem Akalin (GM) 6-1, 6-4
#5 Jerome Kirkland d. David Cornelius (GM) 6-2, 6-4
#6 Vitas Hawley d. Jorge Ramallo (GM) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2

Doubles
#1 Ballester/Dufils (GM) d. Martin/Kirkland 8-4
#2 Bainton/Akalin (GM) d. Myrick/Mark Haines 8-6
#3 Hawley/Reid d. Cornelius/Ramallo (GM) 8-2