STRONG SINGLES PLAY LIFTS MEN’S TENNIS OVER DEFENDING CHAMPS

Follow @RadfordMTennis

RADFORD, Va. – In a match between the past two Big South men's tennis champions, Radford defended its home court by earning a 5-2 victory over Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon at the Radford University Tennis Complex.

Strong singles play fueled the Highlanders (2-9, 2-2 Big South) to their win, claiming five of the six decisions.

"I am pleased with the way we rebounded from Thursday's tough loss to Campbell," head coach Mike Anderson said. "Our guys came ready to play today. I am encouraged to see us moving closer to our potential."

Emotions were high as the two sides battled through three tightly-contested doubles matches. Philippe Tsangaridis and Leo Christofides of Coastal Carolina (9-5, 1-1 Big South) erased an early deficit to down Janken Thoen and Nico Ascarrunz, 8-6, at the top position.

The Chanticleers won a pair of tiebreakers at the bottom two flights to complete the sweep and secure the doubles point. Ted Nilsson stretched Coastal's lead to 2-0 when he dispatched Ascarrunz (6-0, 6-1) at the fifth spot.

From there, it was all Radford. Joe Mills put the Highlanders' first point on the board with his 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Jabar Al-Mutawa on court four. Mills improved to 6-4 in dual matches. Patrick O'Keefe pulled RU even by delivering a 6-3, 6-2 win over Garik Yedigarian at No. 2.

In a grueling bout on court six, Thoen outlasted Hunter Whalen, 7-6 (7-4), in the first set. He used his momentum to close out Whalen, 6-4, in the second set.

Leading 3-2 in the match, Radford received an impressive showing from Aymeric Autones at the third flight to clinch the win. The freshman erased a 5-4 deficit in the opening frame to capture a 7-5 triumph over Christofides. He went on to win the second set, 6-3.

In the last match to go final, Nicholas Sayer knocked off his second nationally-ranked opponent in six days. The reigning Big South Men's Tennis Player of the Week used late breaks in both sets to defeat No. 75 Tsangaridis (6-4, 6-4).

The Highlanders are right back at it tomorrow as they host Winthrop at 1 p.m. Depending on the rain in Sunday's forecast, the match may have to be played in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech's Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.

Radford (5) def. Coastal Carolina (2)
Radford University Tennis Complex (Radford, Va.)
Saturday, March 22, 2014

Doubles competition
1. Philippe Tsangaridis / Leo Christofides (CCU) def. Janken Thoen / Nico Ascarrunz (RU), 8-6
2. Garik Yedigarian / Renan Samed (CCU) def. Nicholas Sayer / Joe Mills (RU), 8-7 (7-5)
3. Ted Nilsson / Hunter Whalen (CCU) def. Patrick O'Keefe / Javier Waase (RU), 8-7 (7-2)

Order of finish: 1, 2*, 3

Singles competition
1. Nicholas Sayer (RU) def. No. 75 Philippe Tsangaridis (CCU), 6-4, 6-4
2. Patrick O'Keefe (RU) def. Garik Yedigarian (CCU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Aymeric Autones (RU) def. Leo Christofides (CCU), 7-5, 6-3
4. Joe Mills (RU) def. Jabar Al-Mutawa (CCU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Ted Nilsson (CCU) def. Nico Ascarrunz (RU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Janken Thoen (RU) def. Hunter Whalen (CCU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

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

Match Notes
Radford (2-9, 2-2 Big South)
Coastal Carolina (9-5, 1-1 Big South)

Print Friendly Version