University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, February 28
Asheville, NC
1 PM
UNC Asheville
4
vs
3
North Carolina Central
Bulldogs Rally for Wild Comeback Win over North Carolina Central
02.28.2026 | Men's Tennis
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Men's Tennis rallied for a wild 4-3 win over North Carolina Central in comeback fashion on Saturday (Feb. 28) at Asheville School.
Â
The Bulldogs won the doubles point with two wins in doubles play, with Griffin Lovern and Harrison Cooper starting this off defeating Rodrigo Alves and Kareen Abdul Hakim 6-4 at No. 1. After North Carolina Central won at No. 2 doubles, Jip Mens and Trevor Gray clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-3) win at No. 3 over Pol Puig Montiel and Leo Fortier.
Â
North Carolina Central then took a 3-1 lead in singles play with wins at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6. The Bulldogs would rally from that point, rattling off three straight singles wins to capture the come-from-behind victory. Mens would beat Naresh Bharathy 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1, before Cian Ingles would beat Hakim 7-6 (7-3) at No. 3 to tie the match. Cooper would step up at No. 4 singles and be the hero today, pulling off a 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win over Montiel for the Bulldog win.
Â
Doubles competition
1. Griffin Lovern/Harrison Cooper (AVL) def. ALVES,Rodrigo/ABDUL HAKIM,Kareem (NCCU) 6-4
2. PANKOWSKI,Antoni/BHARATHY,Naresh (NCCU) def. Daniel Franco-Key/Cian Ingles (AVL) 6-3
3. Jip Mens/Trevor Gray (AVL) def. PUIG MONTIEL,Pol/FORTIER,Leo (NCCU) 7-6 (7-3)
Â
Singles competition
1. Jip Mens (AVL) def. BHARATHY,Naresh (NCCU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. ALVES,Rodrigo (NCCU) def. Daniel Franco-Key (AVL) 6-2, 6-4
3. Cian Ingles (AVL) def. ABDUL HAKIM,Kareem (NCCU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
4. Harrison Cooper (AVL) def. PUIG MONTIEL,Pol (NCCU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
5. PANKOWSKI,Antoni (NCCU) def. Trevor Gray (AVL) 6-3, 6-2
6. PINNA,Santiago (NCCU) def. Martin Fuks (AVL) 6-4, 6-4
Â
The Bulldogs (4-4) are back in action on Mar. 9 against St. Thomas (Fla.) at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Â Â
Â
Â
The Bulldogs won the doubles point with two wins in doubles play, with Griffin Lovern and Harrison Cooper starting this off defeating Rodrigo Alves and Kareen Abdul Hakim 6-4 at No. 1. After North Carolina Central won at No. 2 doubles, Jip Mens and Trevor Gray clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-3) win at No. 3 over Pol Puig Montiel and Leo Fortier.
Â
North Carolina Central then took a 3-1 lead in singles play with wins at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6. The Bulldogs would rally from that point, rattling off three straight singles wins to capture the come-from-behind victory. Mens would beat Naresh Bharathy 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1, before Cian Ingles would beat Hakim 7-6 (7-3) at No. 3 to tie the match. Cooper would step up at No. 4 singles and be the hero today, pulling off a 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 win over Montiel for the Bulldog win.
Â
Doubles competition
1. Griffin Lovern/Harrison Cooper (AVL) def. ALVES,Rodrigo/ABDUL HAKIM,Kareem (NCCU) 6-4
2. PANKOWSKI,Antoni/BHARATHY,Naresh (NCCU) def. Daniel Franco-Key/Cian Ingles (AVL) 6-3
3. Jip Mens/Trevor Gray (AVL) def. PUIG MONTIEL,Pol/FORTIER,Leo (NCCU) 7-6 (7-3)
Â
Singles competition
1. Jip Mens (AVL) def. BHARATHY,Naresh (NCCU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. ALVES,Rodrigo (NCCU) def. Daniel Franco-Key (AVL) 6-2, 6-4
3. Cian Ingles (AVL) def. ABDUL HAKIM,Kareem (NCCU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
4. Harrison Cooper (AVL) def. PUIG MONTIEL,Pol (NCCU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
5. PANKOWSKI,Antoni (NCCU) def. Trevor Gray (AVL) 6-3, 6-2
6. PINNA,Santiago (NCCU) def. Martin Fuks (AVL) 6-4, 6-4
Â
The Bulldogs (4-4) are back in action on Mar. 9 against St. Thomas (Fla.) at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Â Â
Â
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
123
BHARATHY,Naresh / 0 [NCCU-M26]
613
466
#2 Singles Match
12
ALVES,Rodrigo / 0 [NCCU-M26]
66
24
#3 Singles Match
12
ABDUL HAKIM,Kareem / 0 [NCCU-M26]
62
76
#4 Singles Match
123
PUIG MONTIEL,Pol / 0 [NCCU-M26]
561
726
#5 Singles Match
12
PANKOWSKI,Antoni / 0 [NCCU-M26]
66
32
#6 Singles Match
12
PINNA,Santiago / 0 [NCCU-M26]
66
44
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Highlights || Men's Basketball vs USC Upstate
Friday, February 06
Ribbon Cutting || Golf Indoor Practice Facility
Monday, January 12
LJ Thorpe Chalk Talk | Men's Basketball
Wednesday, August 27
Alumni Interview || Clay Edmondson || Baseball
Monday, August 04