Men's Tennis 2/1/2014 9:23:00 PM

NATIONALLY-RANKED DARTMOUTH HALTS COMEBACK BY MEN’S TENNIS

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RESULTS

HANOVER, N.H. – Radford's Janken Thoen and Nicholas Sayer prevailed in their respective singles matches, but 64^th-ranked Dartmouth stopped a possible comeback with a win at the fourth flight to prevail, 5-2, in nonconference men's tennis action Saturday evening at Boss Tennis Center.

"We played much better and are going in the right direction," head coach Mike Anderson said. "Nick had a great win at No. 1 against a really good player, and Janken showed tremendous improvement as a freshman from yesterday's performance. Even though we lost, our play is coming around."

Wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles clinched the early 1-0 lead for the Big Green (5-1). Dovydas Sakinas and Brandon DeBot combined for the 6-2 triumph over Thoen and Javier Waase on court two. Moments later, Christopher Kipouras and Diego Pedraza defeated Joe Mills and Nico Ascarrunz, 6-3, in the third slot.

The 36^th-ranked duo of Cameron Ghorbani and Brenden Tannenbaum led Sayer and Patrick O'Keefe, 5-2, when the doubles point was decided.

In singles, DeBot and Tannenbaum increased Dartmouth's advantage to 3-0 with victories at the third and sixth flights, respectively. Attempting to switch momentum to their side, the Highlanders (0-2) needed a win to stay alive.

On court four, Mills was poised to force a third set after dropping the opening set, 6-3. Ahead 5-4 in the second stanza, Mills dropped the next two games to George Wall, which sealed the Big Green's win.

The remaining three matches went three sets with RU winning two of them. After Kipouras extended Dartmouth's lead to 5-0, Thoen put the Highlanders on the board with his 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 triumph at No. 5 singles. At the top position, Sayer came back to dispatch Sakinas, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Radford returns to action in two weeks when the Highlanders open Big South play at Presbyterian College (Feb. 15) and Gardner-Webb (Feb. 16). Both matches are scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.

No. 64 Dartmouth (5) def. Radford (2)
Boss Tennis Center (Hanover, N.H.)
Saturday, February 1, 2014

Doubles competition
1. Nicholas Sayer / Patrick O'Keefe (RU) vs. No. 36 Cameron Ghorbani / Brenden Tannenbaum (DART), 2-5 (unfinished)
2. Dovydas Sakinas / Brandon DeBot (DART) def. Janken Thoen / Javier Waase (RU), 6-2
3. Christopher Kipouras / Diego Pedraza (DART) def. Joe Mills / Nico Ascarrunz (RU), 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 3*

Singles competition
1. Nicholas Sayer (RU) def. Dovydas Sakinas (DART), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Christopher Kipouras (DART) def. Patrick O'Keefe (RU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Brandon DeBot (DART) def. Nico Ascarrunz (RU), 6-1, 6-2
4. George Wall (DART) def. Joe Mills (RU), 6-3, 6-5
5. Janken Thoen (RU) def. Diego Pedraza (DART), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Brenden Tannenbaum (DART) def. Aymeric Autones (RU), 6-5, 6-2

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

Match Notes
Radford (0-2)
No. 64 Dartmouth (5-1)
Time – 2:30

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