RADFORD, Va. – After dropping the doubles point, Winthrop came from behind to edge Radford, 4-3, in the 2010 Big South Men's Tennis Championships Saturday afternoon at the RU Tennis Courts.

With the match tied 3-3, the Eagles' Nadav Ruppin held off Thomas Dehaen in three sets, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, to finish off the comeback and clinch the title.

Three of the four singles matches that were decided in three sets went the way of Winthrop (13-11).

Radford (12-11) jumped out to the early 1-0 advantage by winning the top two doubles contest by identical 8-6 margins.

Like the top duo of Ivan Salec and Dehaen, the Highlanders' Zack Watson and Paul Boslet went up a break early and never relinquished the lead. For Salec and Dehaen, it was their 14th straight win as they improved to a conference-best 18-1 on the spring.

Radford's tandem of Igor Ogrizek and Erik Finkenbrink were serving for the match on court three when the doubles portion was decided.

The Eagles' Dejon Bevins tied the match, 1-1, with a straight-set victory over Boslet .

Shortly after the No. 4 singles position was decided, Salec put the Highlanders back in front (2-1) and improved to 16-6 on the season with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph on court one. A three-time all-conference performer, Salec entered this afternoon's contest ranked 80th in the most recent ITA Singles Rankings.

Winthrop evened the match again when Guy Kubi came from behind to edge Waton in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Like Kubi, Finkenbrink battled back from a set down to defeat Daniel Daudt, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, and push the margin back in Radford's favor, 3-2.

After four of the singles matches were in the books, Liran Levy bounced back from a first-set deficit to deadlock the contest for a third and final time.

Radford and Winthrop have met five straight seasons in the Big South Finals. Prior to this afternoon, the Highlanders had won the last three finals meetings.

Winthrop 4, Radford 3
4/24/2010 at Radford, Va.
(RU Tennis Courts)

Singles competition
1. #80 SALEC, Ivan (RAD) def. BELOV, Sergey (WU) 7-5, 6-3
2. RUPPIN, Nadav (WU) def. DEHAEN, Thomas (RAD) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
3. LEVY, Liran (WU) def. OGRIZEK, Igor (RAD) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
4. BIVENS, Dejon (WU) def. BOSLET, Paul (RAD) 6-2, 6-4
5. KUBI, Guy (WU) def. WATSON, Zack (RAD) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
6. FINKENBRINK, Erik (RAD) def. DAUDT, Daniel (WU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. SALEC, Ivan/DEHAEN, Thomas (RAD) def. BELOV, Sergey/DAUDT, Daniel (WU) 8-6
2. WATSON, Zack/BOSLET, Paul (RAD) def. RUPPIN, Nadav/KUBI, Guy (WU) 8-6
3. OGRIZEK, Igor/FINKENBRINK, Erik (RAD) vs. BIVENS, Dejon/LEVY, Liran (WU) 7-6, unfinished

Match Notes:
Winthrop 13-11
Radford 12-11