AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's tennis team, ranked 36th in NCAA Division II, fell to the fifth ranked team in the nation, and the top ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic Region, USC Upstate, 6-3, yesterday in Spartanburg, S.C. The Pacers (10-6, 0-5 PBC) lost three singles matches in three sets. Victories in two of those would have given USCA the upset win. The Spartans improve to 5-3 overall and a perfect 4-0 in conference matches.

USC Upstate began by claiming victories in two of the three doubles matches. Predrag Burmazovic and Carl Hocker edged Nicolas Lombardo and Pierre Negri in the number two doubles match, 8-6. USC Aiken's Carlos Huerta and Nikesh Singh defeated Jose Luis and Sandy Schatz, 8-2, in number three doubles.

When singles play began, Diego Sist, rated as the 37th best singles play in NCAA Division II, held on for a 6-7, 6-3 and 6-4 victory over Negri in number one singles. Number 40 Jose Luis Reyes did the same at number two singles, beating Lombardo 6-1, 4-6 and 7-6.

It also took three sets for Ben Ureta to defeat USCA's Fernando Blanco in number four singles, 6-2, 2-6 and 6-3. 

Huerta and Singh remained perfect on the day by following up their doubles victory with wins at number five and six singles. Huerta downed Hocker 6-3 and 6-0 while Singh took care of Schatz, 6-2 and 6-2.

The Pacers will return to action on Tuesday when they host number 15 Georgia College & State University at 2:30 p.m., at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex. It will be USCA's fourth ranked opponent in its last five matches.
Tennis Match Results
USC Aiken vs USC Upstate
Mar 19, 2005 at Spartanburg, S.C.

#5 USC Upstate 6, #36 USC Aiken 3
Singles competition:
1. #37 Diego Sist (UPSTATE) def. Pierre Negri (USCA) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
2. #40 Jose Luis Reyes (UPSTATE) def. Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6
3. Predrag Burmazovic (UPSTATE) def. Fernando Guevara (USCA) 6-0, 7-5
4. Ben Ureta (UPSTATE) def. Fernando Blanco (USCA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
5. Carlos Huerta (USCA) def. Carl Hocker (UPSTATE) 6-3, 6-0
6. Nikesh Singh (USCA) def. Sandy Schatz (UPSTATE) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition:
1. Diego Sist/Ben Ureta (UPSTATE) def. Fernando Blanco/Fernando Guevara (USCA) 8-4
2. Predrag Burmazovic/Carl Hocker (UPSTATE) def. Nicolas Lombardo/Pierre Negri (USCA) 8-6
3. Carlos Huerta/Nikesh Singh (USCA) def. Jose Luis Reyes/Sandy Schatz (UPSTATE) 8-2

Match Notes:
USC Aiken 10-6 (0-5); National ranking #36; Regional ranking #11
USC Upstate 5-3 (4-0); National ranking #5; Regional ranking #1