AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's tennis team, ranked 35th in NCAA Division II, suffered a 6-3 Peach Belt Conference loss to number 31 Lander University yesterday in Greenwood, S.C. The Pacers drop to 11-9 on the season and remain winless in league play at 0-7. The Bearcats improve to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the PBC.

USCA had to play from behind after Lander jumped out in front with three doubles victories. Needing five singles wins to pull out the match, the Pacers could only get three.

Nicholas Tzekos edged USC Aiken's Nicolas Lombardo, 4-6, 7-6 and 10-6 at number two singles. 

Fernando Guevara beat Henrik Erlandsson, 6-3 and 6-4, in number three singles. Nikesh Singh downed Gintas Daniusevicius, 6-2 and 6-3, in number five singles. In number six singles, Fernando Blanco lost the first set to Boris Simic but came back to win the next two by scores of 6-1 and 6-4 for the Pacers' third point.

The Pacers will return to action on April 8 when they host Georgia College & State University at the USCA Tennis Complex at 3:00 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
USC Aiken vs Lander University
Mar 30, 2005 at Greenwood, S.C.
#31 Lander University 6, #35 USC Aiken 3

Singles competition:
1. Nicolas Legros (LANDER) def. Pierre Negri (USCA) 6-2, 6-4
2. Nicholas Tzekos (LANDER) def. Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 4-6, 7-6, 10-6
3. Fernando Guevara (USCA) def. Henrik Erlandsson (LANDER) 6-3, 6-4
4. Andre Ivarsson (LANDER) def. Carlos Huerta (USCA) 7-6, 6-2
5. Nikesh Singh (USCA) def. Gintas Daniusevicius (LANDER) 6-2, 6-3
6. Fernando Blanco (USCA) def. Boris Simic (LANDER) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition:
1. Nicolas Legros/Henrik Erlandsson (LANDER) def. Pierre Negri/Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 8-3
2. Nicholas Tzekos/Boris Simic (LANDER) def. Carlos Huerta/Nikesh Singh (USCA) 8-5
3. Andre Ivarsson/Gintas Daniusevicius (LANDER) def. Fernando Guevara/Fernando Blanco (USCA) 8-4

Match Notes:
USC Aiken 11-9 (0-7 PBC); National ranking #35; Regional ranking #11
Lander University 3-6 (1-4 PBC); National ranking #31; Regional ranking #9