NC State Wolfpack

Feb. 5, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. - Two of NC State's accomplished men's tennis freshmen and well-decorated senior Jaime Pulgar helped the No. 58 Wolfpack defeat No. 45 Cornell, 4-3, on Sunday morning at the Wolfpack's Isenhour Tennis Center.

Newcomers Robbie Mudge and Austin Powell both remained undefeated by winning their matches at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively, while two-time All-ACC pick Pulgar improved to 5-1 overall at No. 1 singles with a three-set victory over Cornell's No. 98 Venkat Iyer, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Mudge, a two-time prep All-American at R.J. Reynolds High School, has not lost a set in his five victories this season. He rolled over Cornell's Quoc-Daniel Nguyen, 6-3, 6-2.

Powell, ranked No. 100 in the ITA rankings of top 125 collegiate tennis players, clinched the team victory with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 decision over the Big Red's Danny Riggs.  The Muscle Shoals, Ala., native now has a trio of three-set victories in his five singles wins.

The Wolfpack won the doubles point for the sixth time this season, as the No. 1 duo of senior Julian Sullivan and sophomore Sean Weber beat Cornell's Iyer and Alex Sidney by a score of 8-4.

Mudge and Pulgar (3-0) remained undefeated at No. 3 doubles with an 8-3 win over Evan McElwain and Nguyen.

The Wolfpack (6-1 overall) will play a second match on Sunday, facing Charlotte at 4 p.m. at the Isenhour Tennis Center.

State is scheduled to play three home matches next weekend, hosting South Carolina at noon on Saturday and a doubleheader against William & Mary at 10 a.m. and UNC Greensboro at 4 p.m. next Sunday.

NC State 4, Cornell 3
Feb. 5, 2012
Isenhour Tennis Center

Doubles
1. Julian Sullivan/Sean Weber (NCSU) def. Venkat Iyer/ Alex Sidney (Cornell), 8-4.
2. Sam Fleck/Jason Luu def. Dominic Hodgson/Matt Thomson (NCSU), 8-3.
3. Robbie Mudge/Jaime  Pulgar (NC State) def. Evan McElwain/Quoc-Daniel Nguyen (Cornell), 8-3.
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3.

Singles
1. Jaime Pulgar (NC State) def. No. 98 Venkat Iyer (Cornell), 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
2. Sam Fleck (Cornell) def. Dominic Hodgson (NC State), 6-0, 3-6, 6-2.
3. Robbie Mudge (NC State) def. Quoc-Daniel Nguyen (Cornell), 6-3, 6-2.
4. No. 100 Austin Powell (NC State) def Danny Riggs (Cornell), 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.
5. Alex Sidney (Cornell) def. Rafael Paez (NC State), 6-3, 6-4.
6. Jason Luu (Cornell) def. Ivan Sanchez Gomez (NC State), 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.