MEN’S TENNIS DIGS DEEP TO PUSH PAST LONGWOOD

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RADFORD, Va. – Playing its second match in just over 14 hours, Radford was able to shake off fatigue and a scrappy Longwood to prevail, 6-1, Sunday afternoon in Big South men's tennis action at the Radford University Tennis Complex.

RU (6-7, 3-1 Big South) won the doubles point for the first time in conference play behind wins on courts one and three. Michiel Meekers and Nikhil Mannepalli rolled to an 8-1 triumph over Bharani Sanker and Rosen Ilchev at the third flight. Patrick O'Keefe and Jose Moreno Manzano clinched the 1-0 edge for the Highlanders moments later with their 8-4 victory at the No. 1.

O'Keefe quickly extended Radford's advantage to 2-0 when his opponent, Dan Elston, retired due to injury. Moreno Manzano and Samuel Taylor clinched the decision for RU on the strength of their straight-set wins at the fourth and sixth flights, respectively.

Janken Thoen and Meekers provided the final scoring for the Highlanders, securing points on courts five and three, respectively.

Radford returns to the court Saturday, April 4 in Rock Hill, S.C., against Winthrop. Competition gets underway at 1 p.m.

Radford (6) def. Longwood (1)
Radford University Tennis Complex (Radford, Va.)
Sunday, March 29, 2015

Doubles competition
1. Patrick O'Keefe / Jose Moreno Manzano (RU) def. Lachlan Manser / Steed Johnson (LONG), 8-4
2. Florian Uffer / Alfonso Castellano (LONG) def. Janken Thoen / Javier Waase (RU), 8-5
3. Michiel Meekers / Nikhil Mannepalli (RU) def. Bharani Sanker / Rosen Ilchev (LONG), 8-1

Order of finish: 3, 1*, 2

Singles competition
1. Patrick O'Keefe (RU) def. Dan Elston (LONG), 6-1, 2-0 (retired)
2. Alfonso Castellano (LONG) def. Nikhil Mannepalli (RU), 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
3. Michiel Meekers (RU) def. Steed Johnson (LONG), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
4. Jose Moreno Manzano (RU) def. Florian Uffer (LONG), 6-0, 7-5
5. Janken Thoen (RU) def. Bharani Sankar (LONG), 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
6. Samuel Taylor (RU) def. Rosen Ilchev (LONG), 6-3, 6-1

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

Match Notes
Radford (6-7, 3-1 Big South)
Longwood (3-14, 0-8 Big South)

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Players Mentioned

Patrick O'Keefe: 5' 11"; Senior

Samuel Taylor: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

Janken Thoen: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Javier Waase: 5' 9"; Senior

Michiel Meekers: 6' 4"; Freshman

Jose Moreno Manzano: 6' 1"; Freshman

Nikhil Mannepalli: 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Patrick O'Keefe
: 5' 11"; Senior

Samuel Taylor
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

Janken Thoen
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Javier Waase
: 5' 9"; Senior

Michiel Meekers
: 6' 4"; Freshman

Jose Moreno Manzano
: 6' 1"; Freshman

Nikhil Mannepalli
: 6' 0"; Freshman