COASTAL CAROLINA FENDS OFF RADFORD RALLY, ADVANCES TO FINAL

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Top seed Coastal Carolina held off a late rally by No. 5 seed Radford Friday morning to escape with a 4-2 victory and reach the championship match of the 2013 Big South Men's Tennis Tournament held at the Winthrop Memorial Tennis Courts.

“Coastal Carolina showed why they are the team to beat in this tournament,” head coach Mike Anderson said. “We got behind early and couldn't quite do enough in the end to earn the result we wanted. Congratulations to their team…we wish them luck in the championship.”

The Chanticleers (14-5) established early leads in each doubles match and held off late rallies at the first and second flights to secure the 1-0 edge. Ted Nilsson and Yusuke Kusuda claimed an 8-1 victory at No. 3 doubles over Patrick O'Keefe and Randall Carter.

At the second position, John Karle and Leo Christofides raced out to a 5-1 advantage and held on for the 8-5 triumph over Stijn Meulemans and Joe Mills to secure the doubles point.

Nilsson extended the Chants' lead to 2-0 when he defeated Mills (6-1, 6-2) at No. 4 singles. O'Keefe delivered the first point of the day for the Highlanders (8-13), retiring Hunter Whalen (6-2, 6-4) at the sixth slot.

Meulemans stretched his win streak to 14 in a row, and more importantly, tied the match at 2-all when he dispatched Christofides (7-5, 6-0) at the top flight. Ironically, the last match the Belgium native lost was to Christofides (6-3, 6-4) on February 24.

However, Coastal countered with victories on courts three and five to advance to the championship final for the first time since 1996.

“I am proud of our guys for making a push at the end,” Anderson said. “This was a terrific group to coach and I look forward to our upcoming season.”

No. 5 Radford (2) vs. No. 1 Coastal Carolina (4)
Winthrop Memorial Tennis Courts (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Friday, April 19, 2013

Doubles Competition
1. Garik Yedigarian / Matias Di Pasquale (CCU) led Nicholas Sayer / Thomas Dehaen (RU), 7-5
2. John Karle / Leo Christofides (CCU) def. Stijn Meulemans / Joe Mills (RU), 8-5
3. Ted Nilsson / Yusuke Kusuda (CCU) def. Patrick O'Keefe / Randall Carter (RU), 8-1

Order of finish: 3, 2*

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

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

Match Notes
No. 1 Coastal Carolina (14-5)
No. 5 Radford (8-13)
Time: 2:45

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