RADFORD UPSETS WINTHROP IN QUARTERFINALS, 4-1

ROCK HILL, S.C. – No. 5 seed Radford held off a late rally by No. 4 seed Winthrop to upend the Eagles, 4-1, Thursday afternoon and advance to the semifinals of the Big South Men's Tennis Championship held at the Winthrop Memorial Tennis Courts.

In addition to advancing to the semifinals, Radford's victory was head coach Mike Anderson's 250th at the helm of the Highlanders.

“That was a classic Winthrop / Radford men's tennis match,” Anderson said. “Winthrop is a tough opponent, well-coached and very hard to beat at home. I give a lot of credit to both teams for how hard they fought out there today. Fans were treated to some great tennis.”

Stijn Meulemans and Joe Mills got the day started off for Radford (8-12) by downing Yuta Hirokawa and Steven Patrick at No. 2 doubles. The Eagles (9-13) responded on court three when Juan Pablo Boada and Corey Decandia prevailed 8-4 over Patrick O'Keefe and Randall Carter.

The doubles point came down to the top flight where Nicholas Sayer and Thomas Dehaen were locked in a tight one with Dylan Comerford and Peter Nagovnak. After racing out to a 4-1 lead, the Highlanders' tandem had to rally to force a seven-point tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, Sayer and Dehaen once again established an early lead (6-3). However, the Eagles' duo fought off three match points and eventually earned match point themselves at 7-6. With their backs against the wall, Sayer and Dehaen showed resiliency as they reeled off three straight games to capture the tiebreaker, 9-7, and give RU the 1-0 edge.

O'Keefe won his third match in a row at No. 6 singles by dispatching Michael Chen in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) to improve to 7-5 on the season. Sayer made it 3-0 in favor of the Highlanders when he defeated 2013 Big South Rookie of the Year Aramburu in straight sets (6-0, 6-4).

Winthrop got on the board when Nagovnak prevailed 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 singles over Carter. Radford threatened to close out the match on court four. Mills was up a set and 5-2 in the second, but the Eagles' Pablo Boada forced a third frame by rallying for a 7-5 second-set triumph.

Entering the tournament on a 12-match win streak, Meulemans was able to keep his streak alive as he delivered the match-clinching victory at No. 1 singles (6-3, 7-6 (7-3)) over Comerford.

The Highlanders will meet No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina in the semifinals Friday at a time to be determined.

No. 5 Radford (4) at No. 4 Winthrop (1)
Winthrop Memorial Tennis Courts (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Thursday, April 18, 2013

Doubles Competition
1. SAYER, Nicholas / DEHAEN, Thomas (RU) def. COMERFORD, Dylan / NAGOVNAK, Peter (WU), 9-8 (9-7)
2. MEULEMANS, Stijn / MILLS, Joe (RU) def. HIROKAWA, Yuta / PATRICK, Steven (WU), 8-2
3. PABLO BOADA, Juan / DECANDIA, Corey (WU) def. CARTER, Randall / O'KEEFE, Patrick (RU), 8-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1*

Singles Competition
1. MEULEMANS, Stijn (RU) def. COMERFORD, Dylan (WU), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
2. SAYER, Nicholas (RU) def. ARAMBURU, Ivar (WU), 6-0, 6-4
3. HIROKAWA, Yuta (WU) led DEHAEN, Thomas (RU), 7-6 (11-9), 4-1
4. PABLO BOADA, Juan (WU) led MILLS, Joe (RU), 2-6, 7-5, 1-0
5. NAGOVNAK, Peter (WU) def. CARTER, Randall (RU), 6-3, 6-4
6. O'KEEFE, Patrick (RU) def. CHEN, Michael (WU), 6-0, 6-1

Order of finish: 6, 2, 5, 1*

Match Notes
No. 4 Winthrop (9-13)
No. 5 Radford (8-12)
Time: 3:30

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