CONWAY, S.C. – After dropping the doubles point, Radford won five of the six singles matches to rally past Coastal Carolina, 5-2, in Big South men's tennis action Saturday afternoon.
Despite falling behind 1-0, the Highlanders (2-2, 1-0 Big South) lone doubles triumph came from
Ivan Salec (Oroslavje, Croatia / Oroslavje Secondary School) and
Thomas Dehaen (Zwevegem, Belgium / Middenjury), who edged the nationally-ranked duo of Matt Gordon and Peter Billingham, 8-6.
With their win at the top doubles position, Radford's tandem improved to 21-2 since teaming up a year ago.
Salec, ranked 51st in the most recent ITA Rankings, remained unbeaten in singles with a three-set win over Gordon, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6.
Like Salec,
Nick Sayer (Hong Kong, Hong Kong / Cams Hill School) and
Igor Ogrizek (Daruvar, Croatia / Birotechnika Grammar School) also moved to 4-0 on the young season with wins at positions two and four, respectively.
Joe Mills (England / Cardinal Newman Catholic) and Dehaen also picked up singles victories for the Highlanders, who have won 30 of their last 32 regular season league matches.
The Chanticleers (6-2, 1-1 Big South) only singles win came in three sets from Alex Funkhouser on court six.
Radford will conclude its trip to the Palmetto State with a 9 a.m. dual at South Carolina State followed by a 2:30 p.m. match with Newberry College tomorrow.
Radford 5, Coastal Carolina 2
Doubles Competition
1)
Ivan Salec /
Thomas Dehaen (RU) def. No. 82 Matt Gordon / Peter Billingham (CCU), 8-6
2) Alex Funkhouser / Danny Heidecker (CCU) def.
Joe Mills /
Stijn Meulemans (RU), 8-4
3) Dorian Sovic / Yusuke Kusuda (CCU) def.
Igor Ogrizek / Nick Sayer (RU), 8-6
Singles Competition
1) No. 51
Ivan Salec (RU) def. Matt Gordon (CCU), 6-4, 6-7, 7-6
2) Nick Sayer (RU) def. Danny Heidecker (CCU), 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
3)
Joe Mills (RU) def. Dorian Sovic (CCU), 6-4, 6-4
4)
Igor Ogrizek (RU) def. Yusuke Kusuda (CCU), 6-3, 6-3
5)
Thomas Dehaen (RU) def. Peter Billingham (CCU), ret inj.
6) Alex Funkhouser (CCU) def.
Stijn Meulemans (RU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2