Friday, March 9
Portland, OR
4:00 PM
Radford University
5
at
2
No. 45 Portland
Photo by: Tim Cowie
RADFORD SINGLES PLAY TOO MUCH FOR NO. 45 PORTLAND
3/9/2012 9:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis
PORTLAND, Oregon – Despite dropping the doubles point, Radford rallied with five singles victories to upset No. 45 Portland, 5-2, in non-conference men's tennis action Friday afternoon at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center.
In addition to the Highlanders' third win over a nationally-ranked foe in the last four years, the Pilots are the highest ranked opponent RU has defeated in school history.
Portland (7-2) wasted little time grabbing the early 1-0 advantage as the Pilots swept the doubles competition, including a pair of 8-3 decisions on courts one and two.
Playing its third nationally-ranked opponent in as many matches and fourth of the season, Radford (8-3) responded with three straight singles victories to take a 3-1 lead. Nicholas Sayer, who entered ranked 104th in the ITA Rankings, evened the score with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 decision at the top spot.
Shortly after Sayer's eighth straight win, fellow sophomore Stijn Meulemans gave the Highlanders the lead for good with a straight-set (6-3, 7-5) triumph of his own on court three.
For the second straight match, Igor Ogrizek battled back from a set down to force a third and decisive set. This time, the senior captain came out on the winning end, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, to grab the crucial point and put the Highlanders one victory away from the upset.
Sophomore Joe Mills finished off the comeback and clinched the winning point with a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Justin Guay at the No. 5 singles position.
Coming off his first setback of the spring, freshman Patrick O'Keefe provided the final Radford tally thanks to a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Jackson Martin to improve to 10-1.
Portland's lone singles win came from Mike Hu Kwo.
The first-ever meeting between the Highlanders and Pilots was played inside on three courts.
Radford will enjoy an 11-day break before hosting South Carolina State on March 20 at 3 p.m.
RADFORD 5, NO. 45 PORTLAND 2
Singles Competition
1. No. 104 Nick Sayer (RU) def. Stefan Micov (UP), 6-3, 6-1
2. Igor Ogrizek (RU) def. Geoff Hernandez (UP), 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Stijn Meulemans (RU) def. Alex Ferrero (UP), 6-3, 7-5
4. Mike Hu Kwo (UP) def. Thomas Dehaen (RU), 6-4, 6-4
5. Joe Mills (RU) def. Justin Guay (UP), 6-3, 6-3
6. Patrick O'Keefe (RU) def. Jackson Martin (UP), 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6
Doubles Competition
1. Mike Hu Kwo/ Alex Ferrero (UP) def. Nick Sayer / Thomas Dehaen (RU), 8-3
2. Stefan Micov/ Geoff Hernandez (UP) def. Igor Ogrizek / Stijn Meulemans (RU), 8-3
3. Justin Guay/ Jackson Martin (UP) def. Patrick O'Keefe / Randall Carter (RU), 9-7
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Match Notes
Radford 8-3
Portland 7-2
In addition to the Highlanders' third win over a nationally-ranked foe in the last four years, the Pilots are the highest ranked opponent RU has defeated in school history.
Portland (7-2) wasted little time grabbing the early 1-0 advantage as the Pilots swept the doubles competition, including a pair of 8-3 decisions on courts one and two.
Playing its third nationally-ranked opponent in as many matches and fourth of the season, Radford (8-3) responded with three straight singles victories to take a 3-1 lead. Nicholas Sayer, who entered ranked 104th in the ITA Rankings, evened the score with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 decision at the top spot.
Shortly after Sayer's eighth straight win, fellow sophomore Stijn Meulemans gave the Highlanders the lead for good with a straight-set (6-3, 7-5) triumph of his own on court three.
For the second straight match, Igor Ogrizek battled back from a set down to force a third and decisive set. This time, the senior captain came out on the winning end, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, to grab the crucial point and put the Highlanders one victory away from the upset.
Sophomore Joe Mills finished off the comeback and clinched the winning point with a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Justin Guay at the No. 5 singles position.
Coming off his first setback of the spring, freshman Patrick O'Keefe provided the final Radford tally thanks to a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Jackson Martin to improve to 10-1.
Portland's lone singles win came from Mike Hu Kwo.
The first-ever meeting between the Highlanders and Pilots was played inside on three courts.
Radford will enjoy an 11-day break before hosting South Carolina State on March 20 at 3 p.m.
RADFORD 5, NO. 45 PORTLAND 2
Singles Competition
1. No. 104 Nick Sayer (RU) def. Stefan Micov (UP), 6-3, 6-1
2. Igor Ogrizek (RU) def. Geoff Hernandez (UP), 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Stijn Meulemans (RU) def. Alex Ferrero (UP), 6-3, 7-5
4. Mike Hu Kwo (UP) def. Thomas Dehaen (RU), 6-4, 6-4
5. Joe Mills (RU) def. Justin Guay (UP), 6-3, 6-3
6. Patrick O'Keefe (RU) def. Jackson Martin (UP), 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6
Doubles Competition
1. Mike Hu Kwo/ Alex Ferrero (UP) def. Nick Sayer / Thomas Dehaen (RU), 8-3
2. Stefan Micov/ Geoff Hernandez (UP) def. Igor Ogrizek / Stijn Meulemans (RU), 8-3
3. Justin Guay/ Jackson Martin (UP) def. Patrick O'Keefe / Randall Carter (RU), 9-7
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Match Notes
Radford 8-3
Portland 7-2
Monday, August 03
Monday, August 03
Tuesday, July 28
Thursday, July 23
