ELON, N.C. – Elon ended Radford's doubles and overall winning streak with a 4-3 victory over the nationally-ranked Highlanders in men's tennis action Sunday afternoon at the Powell Tennis Center.

The setback was just the second in the last 13 matches for Radford as it falls to 13-3 overall, while Elon improves to 14-4.

For just the second time this season, Radford fell behind 1-0 after dropping the doubles point. The Phoenix won two of the three contests to end the Highlanders' streak of 12 consecutive doubles victories.

Radford's lone win in doubles came from Ivan Salec (Oroslavje, Croatia/Oroslavje Secondary) and Mehdi Benhammou (Rabat, Morocco/Descartes) as they ran their winning streak to seven with an 8-5 decision.

In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, Elon's top duo of Damon Gooch and Philip Nemec ended Martin Sayer (Hong Kong/Sagemont Virtual) and Zack Watson's (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) 12-match winning streak with an 8-6 win. Gooch and Nemec entered 48th in the polls, while Sayer and Watson are currently 50th.

The Phoenix clinched the point with Alberto Rojas and Cody Stauffer-MacDow defeating Igor Ogrizek (Daruvar, Croatia/Birotechnika Grammar) and Stefan Bojic (Novi Sad, Serbia) 8-5 on court three.

Elon got straight-set wins from Nemec and Rojas at positions three and five to extend its lead to 3-0. The Phoenix eventually clinched the dual with Oscar Podlewski's crucial 7-6, 7-6 victory over Salec.

Just like doubles competition, the top singles match featured a pair of individuals ranked among the nation's best. Sayer, who is 120th in the latest ITA rankings, recorded a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 66 Gooch.

The victory was the seventh straight for Sayer and his second over a nationally-ranked foe this season as he improves to 14-2.

Like Sayer, Watson bounced back to win his singles contest. The junior held off Stauffer-MacDow 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 for his 13th victory of the spring.

Playing in his second three-setter in as many days, Benhammou put the final mark on the board for the Highlanders with a hard-fought 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 triumph on the fourth court.

Radford will conclude its 2009 regular season with six straight home contests beginning with a 2:30 p.m. match against Appalachian State Monday.

Elon 4, No. 56 Radford 3
Jimmy Powell Tennis Center - Elon, N.C.

Doubles
1 – No. 48 Damon Gooch/Philip Nemec (Elon) def. No. 50 Martin Sayer/Zack Watson 8-6
2 – Ivan Salec/Mehdi Benhammou (Radford) def. Chase Helpingstine/Carlin Murray 8-5
3 – Alberto Rojas/Cody Stauffer MacDowell (Elon) def. Igor Ogrizek/Stefan Bojic 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles
1 – No. 120 Martin Sayer (Radford) def. No. 66 Damon Gooch 6-3, 6-2
2 – Oscar Podlewski (Elon) def. Ivan Salec 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5)
3 – Philip Nemec (Elon) def. Stefan Bojic 6-1, 6-0
4 – Mehdi Benhammou (Radford) def. Chase Helpingstine 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-5
5 – Alberto Rojas (Elon) def. Igor Ogrizek 6-2, 6-3
6 – Zack Watson (Radford) def. Cody Stauffer MacDowell 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
Order of 3, 1, 5, 2, 6, 4

Records: Radford 13-3, Elon 14-4