RALLY COMES UP SHORT AS MEN’S TENNIS FALLS AT CAMPBELL, 4-3

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For the second straight day, Radford was unable to win the final and deciding match as Campbell prevailed, 4-3, in Big South men's tennis action from the James Nesbit Tennis Center Monday evening.

The Camels (4-4, 1-0 Big South) claimed a 1-0 edge after sweeping the doubles competition. David Clavera and Josep Baro defeated Stijn Meulemans and Javier Waase at No. 2 doubles, 8-2. The point was won when 44th-ranked Nicholas Sayer and Thomas Dehaen dropped an 8-5 decision to Fernando Guillen and Adrien Rossingnon. Joe Mills and Patrick O'Keefe extended the battle at No. 3 doubles into an extra game before falling, 9-7, to Ondrej Kralik and Steven Billington.

Campbell increased its lead to 2-0 when Baro dispatched Randall Carter (6-2, 6-0) in the fifth flight. Dehaen moved to 2-0 in the dual season by recording the first point of the day for the Highlanders (0-4, 0-2 Big South) at No. 2 singles (7-6, 6-1) over Rossingnon.

Rik Van Gerwen took down O'Keefe (6-3, 7-6) at No. 6 singles to give the Camels a 3-1 advantage with three matches to go. Meulemans provided a spark in the fourth slot, downing Clavera (7-6, 6-3) for his first win of the season. More importantly, the junior's victory pulled RU within 3-2.

The final two matches went to three sets. Mills was able to outlast Billington (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) at No. 3 singles to square the dual at 3-all.

Mills' victory set the stage for Sayer to complete the comeback. Going up against the Big South's highest-ranked player in Guillen (No. 64), Sayer dropped a hard-fought (6-7, 7-5, 7-5) battle at the top spot.

Next up for the Highlanders is their home opener, Sunday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. against Eastern Kentucky (5-6). The defending Ohio Valley Conference champion is slated to play Liberty, Saturday at 12:00 p.m., before making the trek to the New River Valley.

Radford at Campbell
James Nesbit Tennis Center (Buies Creek, N.C.)
Monday, Feb. 25, 2013

Doubles Competition
1. Fernando Guillen / Adrien Rossingnon (CU) def. No. 44 Nicholas Sayer / Thomas Dehaen (RU), 8-5
2. David Clavera / Josep Baro (CU) def. Stijn Meulemans / Javier Waase (RU), 8-2
3. Ondrej Kralik / Steven Billington (CU) def. Patrick O'Keefe / Joe Mills (RU), 9-7

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles Competition
1. No. 64 Fernando Guillen (CU) def. Nicholas Sayer (RU), 6-7, 7-5, 7-5
2. Thomas Dehaen (RU) def. Adrien Rossingnon (CU), 7-6, 6-1
3. Joe Mills (RU) def. Steven Billington (CU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
4. Stijn Meulemans (RU) def. David Clavera (CU), 7-6, 6-3
5. Josep Baro (CU) def. Randall Carter (RU), 6-2, 6-0
6. Rik Van Gerwen (CU) def. Patrick O'Keefe (RU), 6-3, 7-6

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

Match Notes
Campbell (4-4, 1-0 Big South)
Radford (0-4, 0-2 Big South)

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