ORLANDO, Florida – Junior Daniel Groom trimmed Jeffery Hsu in three sets to propel UNCW over BYU, 4-3, in non-conference men's tennis action early Monday at the USTA National Campus.
 
The Seahawks, six-time Colonial Athletic Association champions, evened their record at 1-1 after bouncing back from a season-opening loss on Saturday vs. FAU. BYU suffered its first loss of the season and stands 3-1.
 
In Monday's match, the Seahawks dropped the doubles point, but registered singles victories at No. 2, 3, 4 and 6 singles to avenge a loss last year to BYU in Orlando and even the series record with the Cougars at 1-1.
 
Trailing 1-0, the Seahawks dropped the first singles match off the court, before storming back to win four of the final five matches to take the match. Austin Hussey, Davide Innocenti and Michael Copeland reeled off victories to give the Seahawks a 3-2 edge before the Cougars won a three-setter at No. 5 singles to square the match at 3-all.
 
Groom, from Tasmania, Australia, then rallied from a one-set deficit to stun Hsu, a senior from 5-7, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 2 singles and deliver the narrow victory.
 
"I'm very proud of our group and how they played today against a very good BYU team," said veteran UNCW head coach Mait DuBois. "BYU plays very aggressively and brings a lot of pressure. We did an outstanding job of staying composed and working hard. We will take a lot of confidence from this win."
 
The Seahawks return to the court later this week when they travel to Starkville, Miss., to compete in the ITA Kick-off hosted by Mississippi State. UNCW faces Arizona in an opening-round match on Friday, Jan. 25.
   
Singles
1. Sean Hill (BYU) def. Agustin Savarino (UNCW) 6-0, 6-2
2. Daniel Groom (UNCW) def. Jeffrey Hsu (BYU) 5-7, 6-0, 6-4
3. Austin Hussey (UNCW) def. Mateo Vereau (BYU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Michael Copeland (UNCW) def. Sam Tullis (BYU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Ben Gajardo (BYU) def. Michael Morphy (UNCW) 6-0, 2-6, 6-3
6. Davide Innocenti (UNCW) def. Matthew Pearce (BYU) 6-3, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Michael Copeland/Cole Groetsch (UNCW) vs. Sean Hill/Jeffrey Hsu (BYU) 3-4, unfinished
2. Ben Gajardo/Sam Tullis (BYU) def. Bruno Caula/Michael Morphy (UNCW) 6-3
3. Mateo Vereau/Matthew Pearce (BYU) def. Daniel Groom/Agustin Savarino (UNCW) 6-2
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,3,6,4,5,2)