WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW men's tennis team won its fourth match in the last five outings by rolling past state rival Charlotte, 6-1, on Friday the UNCW Courts.
 
The Seahawks raised their record to 4-2 and remained unbeaten at home in three matches. Charlotte now stands 6-5 overall and 3-3 on the road this spring.
 
UNCW claimed the doubles point for the fourth time this season when the No. 1 tandem of Bruno Caula and Daniel Groom trimmed Charlotte's Ignasi de Rueda and Stefanos Savva, 7-5. De Rueda played for Seahawks for two seasons from 2016-18.
 
Michael Copeland (No. 6) and Groom (No. 3) carved out wins to get the Seahawks going in singles and freshman Bekhzad Rasamatov finished off the match with a 6-3, 6-3, decision over Charlotte's Leo Menezes at No. 5 singles.
 
"Today was a great college tennis match and the intensity was very high," said UNCW Head Coach Mait DuBois. "After a very tight doubles point, our two seniors came out and set the tone with two decisive wins. Our freshman, Bekhzod Rasamatov, put in a very solid and mature performance to clinch the match for us.
 
"The team energy was excellent and it was really a great atmosphere to play in. Charlotte has a very good team and we will take a lot from this win."
 
The Seahawks conclude their three-match home stand on Tuesday, March 9, with a 1 p.m. match against North Florida at the UNCW Courts. The 49ers wrap up a two-match swing to the coast by playing at Coastal Carolina on Sunday in an 11 a.m. match.
   
Singles
1. Bruno Caula (UNCW) def. Olle Wallin (CLT), 6-3, 0-6, 6-3
2. Davide Innocenti (UNCW) def. Henry Lieberman (CLT), 7-5, 6-4
3. Daniel Groom (UNCW) def. Ben Wayand (CLT), 6-3, 6-1
4. Stefanos Savva (CLT) def. Gabriel Hurtado (UNCW), 6-4, 7-5
5. Bekhzad Rasamatov (UNCW) def. Leo Menezes (CLT), 6-3, 6-3
6. Michael Copeland (UNCW) def. Peter Glenn (CLT), 6-0, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Bruno Caula/Daniel Groom (UNCW) def. Ignasi de Rueda/Stefanos Savva (CLT), 7-5
2. Henry Lieberman/Leo Menezes (CLT) def. Michael Copeland/Gabriel Hurtado (UNCW), 6-4
3. Bekhzad Rasamatov/Dillon Gooch (UNCW) def. Ben Wayand/Peter Glenn (CLT), 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,3,5,4,1,2)