Men's Tennis 4/19/2015 9:00:00 PM

WINTHROP EARNS HARD-FOUGHT 4-2 VICTORY OVER MEN’S TENNIS

Follow @RadfordMTennis

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Defending Big South champion Winthrop defeated Radford, 4-2, in the quarterfinals of the Big South Men's Tennis Championship Sunday evening at the Asheville Racquet Club.

"This was another classic Radford-Winthrop match," head coach Mike Anderson said. "I commend our players for the heart and mental toughness they showed down the stretch. We just couldn't quite pull it out. We wish Winthrop the best of luck moving forward in the tournament."

Winthrop (13-8) earned the early 1-0 advantage by claiming the doubles point on courts one and two. Michiel Meekers and Nikhil Mannepalli were the only Highlanders to prevail in doubles action, taking down Joshua Ryan and Michael Chen, 8-3, at the third flight.

The Eagles extended their advantage to 2-0 following Dylan Comerford's 6-4, 6-3 victory over Mannepalli at the No. 2 position. Meekers brought the Highlanders (9-11) within 2-1 after dispatching Steven Patrick in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) on court three.

However, Peter Nagovnak answered for Winthrop by outlasting Jose Moreno Manzano in three sets (6-1, 2-6, 6-4) at the fourth flight.

With Radford trailing 3-1, Janken Thoen delivered a critical three-set victory at the No. 5 position. After dropping the first set, 6-4, the sophomore responded by claiming the final two sets, 6-2, 6-2.

The Highlanders' comeback ended, however, when Winthrop's Chen defeated Samuel Taylor (6-1, 6-4) at No. 6 singles.

The remaining match pitted two of the top players in the Big South dueling it out at the top flight. Patrick O'Keefe opened with an impressive 6-3 first-set triumph over Tremayne Mitchell. In the second set, the two battled to a tiebreaker, which Mitchell eventually captured, 7-6 (4).

O'Keefe and Mitchell were once again locked in another heated affair in the deciding third set. They dueled all the way to another tiebreaker, which was tied 6-6, before the match was called due to Winthrop claiming the match result on court six.

Despite Radford's season coming to a close, O'Keefe is still alive for a berth into the NCAA Singles Championship. The field will be announced later this month.

Winthrop (4) def. Radford (2)
Asheville Racquet Club (Asheville, N.C.)
Sunday, April 19, 2015

Doubles competition
1. Dylan Comerford / Peter Nagovnak (WU) def. Patrick O'Keefe / Jose Moreno Manzano (RU), 8-4
2. Tremayne Mitchell / Steven Patrick (WU) def. Janken Thoen / Samuel Taylor (RU), 8-1
3. Michiel Meekers / Nikhil Mannepalli (RU) def. Joshua Ryan / Michael Chen (WU), 8-3

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1*

Singles competition
1. Patrick O'Keefe (RU) vs. Tremayne Mitchell (WU), 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-6
2. Dylan Comerford (WU) def. Nikhil Mannepalli (RU), 6-4, 6-3
3. Michiel Meekers (RU) def. Steven Patrick (WU), 6-4, 6-3
4. Peter Nagovnak (WU) def. Jose Moreno Manzano (RU), 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
5. Janken Thoen (RU) def. Ruben Franzanti (WU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Michael Chen (WU) def. Samuel Taylor (RU), 6-1, 6-4

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

Match Notes
Radford (9-11)
Winthrop (13-8)

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Patrick O'Keefe: 5' 11"; Senior

Samuel Taylor: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

Janken Thoen: 6' 1"; Sophomore

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

Michiel Meekers
: 6' 4"; Freshman

Jose Moreno Manzano
: 6' 1"; Freshman

Nikhil Mannepalli
: 6' 0"; Freshman