WOMEN’S TENNIS OPENS SAYER ERA WITH 4-1 VICTORY OVER CHARLOTTE

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RESULTS

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Taylor Newman outlasted her opponent in three sets Friday evening to earn the clinching point at No. 1 singles and propel the Radford women's tennis team to the 4-1 triumph over Charlotte at the Knobloch Tennis Center on the campus of Davidson College.

In his first match as head coach, Martin Sayer guided the Highlanders (1-0) to just their second win over the 49ers (0-1) in program history. RU, which snapped Charlotte's 10-match winning streak in the all-time series, was 1-12 against the 49ers prior to today.

Radford earned the doubles point off wins at the top two flights. Meg Napolitano and Grace Sarver continued to prove they are a dynamic duo as they dispatched Natsuko Takayanagi and Tyler Baker, 6-1. Napolitano and Sarver improved to 5-2 in doubles competition.

The Highlanders took the early 1-0 lead in the match when Newman and Gemma Valls defeated Lisa Grosselius and Victoria Pahlett, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles. Gisela Garcia and Taylor Fay battled in the third flight against Macy Vonderschmidt and Jessica Perez, but the match was halted once the doubles point was decided.

Takayanagi delivered the equalizer at No. 3 singles for the 49ers by taking down Napolitano, 6-0, 6-4. Each of the next three matches went to a decisive third set. Leading off the Highlanders' charge was Sarver, who downed Baker, 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7), in the fourth slot. Next to finish was Valls, who supplied a 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8) win over Grosselius at No. 2 singles.

With Radford ahead, 3-1, the spotlight quickly shifted to the clash on court one. After dropping the first set, 6-2, Newman rallied for a 7-5 win in the second frame. The third set lived up to its climatic billing as it went extra points before Newman outlasted Pahlett, 15-13.

Radford will look to ride its wave of momentum from the Highlanders' season-opening victory when the team returns to the Knobloch Tennis Center Saturday to battle Davidson at 10 a.m.

Radford (4) vs. Charlotte (1)
Knobloch Tennis Center (Davidson, N.C.)
Friday, January 24, 2014

Doubles competition
1. Taylor Newman / Gemma Valls (RU) def. Lisa Grosselius / Victoria Pahlett (CHAR), 6-4
2. Meg Napolitano / Grace Sarver (RU) def. Natsuko Takayanagi / Tyler Baker (CHAR), 6-1
3. Gisela Garcia / Taylor Fay (RU) vs. Macy Vonderschmidt / Jessica Perez (CHAR), 6-6 (1-3)

Order of finish: 2, 1*

Singles competition
1. Taylor Newman (RU) def. Victoria Pahlett (CHAR), 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (15-13)
2. Gemma Valls (RU) def. Lisa Grosselius (CHAR), 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Natsuko Takayanagi (CHAR) def. Meg Napolitano (RU), 6-0, 6-4
4. Grace Sarver (RU) def. Tyler Baker (CHAR), 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7)
5. Sara Andrade (RU) vs. Macy Vonderschmidt (CHAR), 0-0
6. Gisela Garcia (RU) vs. Jessica Perez (CHAR), 0-0

Order of finish: 3, 4, 2, 1*

Match Notes
Radford (1-0)
Charlotte (0-1)
Time – 3:10

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