CHAPEL HILL, NC- This past weekend, seniors Evgeny Slesarev and Rafael Altmayer, as well as freshman Roman Piftor, represented Gardner-Webb in the 2009 ITA Carolina Regionals, which were joint-hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.

Slesarev had the most success this weekend, advancing all the way to the round of 16 before being eliminated.  His first round opponent was Eric Noble of Davidson, who he defeated 6-3,6-2.  His round of 64 opponent was Arsel Kumdereli of UNC-Greensboro, who he defeated 6-1, 6-1.  In the round of 32, he faced Luke Mojica of UNC-Chapel Hill, and defeated him 6-3, 6-3.  In the round of 16, he faceed Ryan Noble of UNC-Chapel Hill, but fell 7-6(5), 7-5.  Head Coach Mike Griffith commented on Slesarev's play on the weekend, stating that he was disappointed that he was unable to continue his run through the tournament, but Noble of UNC played better at crucial times and deserved to win.

Altmayer, a senior from Porto Alegre, Brazil, fell in the round of 128 to Mickael Trintignac of College of Charleston, 6-3, 6-1.  Piftor, a freshman from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, fell to Chad Brady of Wake Forest in the qualifying rounds.  Coach Griffith commented on the performance of all of his participants this weekend, stating that he felt it was a good experience for them, and that the players will be able to improve from this experience.

The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team will return to action on the weekend of October 30^th thru November 1^st, as they travel to Tuscaloosa, AL to take part in the University of Alabama Fall Tournament.