MEN’S TENNIS DROPS BIG SOUTH OPENER AT COASTAL CAROLINA, 4-3

CONWAY, S.C. – Jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Radford could not hold off a Coastal Carolina rally as the Chanticleers took four of the six singles matches to edge the Highlanders, 4-3, in the Big South opener for both squads at the Billy Nichols Tennis Center Sunday evening.

Patrick O'Keefe and Joe Mills recorded the first win of the day for Radford (0-3) at No. 3 doubles, downing Leo Christofides and John Karle, 8-3. Coastal (3-2) evened the dual when Garik Yedigarian and Matias Di Pasquale prevailed in the second flight, 8-3, over Stijn Meulemans and Javier Waase.

The doubles point would be decided at the top of the order where the 44th-ranked tandem of Nicholas Sayer and Thomas Dehaen represented the Highlanders. The duo gave RU the 1-0 lead following a 8-5 decision over Yusuke Kusuda and Ted Nilsson.

Dehaen increased the Radford advantage to 2-0 when the senior cruised by Nilsson at No. 2 singles. The Chants rallied with victories at the third, fifth and sixth positions to go ahead, 3-2, with two matches remaining.

Sayer, the 2012 Big South Player of the Year, was clutch at the No. 1 slot, gutting out a three-set (4-6, 6-2, 7-5) win to improve to 2-1 on the season and square the dual at 3-all.

It all came down to No. 4 singles where Coastal's Yedigarian and Radford's Mills battled it out. After being blanked in the first set, Mills fought back to take the second frame (7-6). However, the junior could not complete the comeback as Yedigarian clinched the dual for the Chants with a 6-2 triumph in the third set.

The Highlanders are back in action Monday, Feb. 25 at Campbell. RU hooked up with the Camels twice last season. The Highlanders downed Campbell 6-1 at home and 4-0 in the semifinals of the conference tournament. First serve is slated for 2:00 p.m. from the James Nesbit Tennis Center.

Radford at Coastal Carolina
Billy Nichols Tennis Center (Conway, S.C.)
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013

Doubles Competition
1. No. 44 Nicholas Sayer / Thomas Dehaen (RU) def. Yusuke Kusuda / Ted Nilsson (CCU), 8-5
2. Garik Yedigarian / Matias Di Pasquale (CCU) def. Stijn Meulemans / Javier Waase (RU), 8-3
3. Patrick O'Keefe / Joe Mills (RU) def. Leo Christofides / John Karle (CCU), 8-3

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles Competition
1. Nicholas Sayer (RU) def. Yusuke Kusuda (CCU), 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
2. Thomas Dehaen (RU) def. Ted Nilsson (CCU), 6-3, 6-1
3. Leo Christofides (CCU) def. Stijn Meulemans (RU), 6-3, 6-4
4. Garik Yedigarian (CCU) def. Joe Mills (RU), 6-0, 6-7, 6-2
5. Matias Di Pasquale (CCU) def. Patrick O'Keefe (RU), 7-5, 7-5
6. Hunter Whalen (CCU) def. Randall Carter (RU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 5, 6, 1, 4

Match Notes
Coastal Carolina (3-2)
Radford (0-3)

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