RADFORD ADVANCES TO BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINALS WITH 4-3 WIN VERSUS LONGWOOD

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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford earned its first Big South Tournament win since 2013 with a 4-3 decision over No. 9 Longwood, Wednesday afternoon at the Cook Tennis Courts. With the victory, Radford advances to Thursday's quarterfinals to take on No. 1 Coastal Carolina.

Longwood captured the doubles point with wins in No. 1 and 2 doubles. Jose Moreno Manzano and Michiel Meekers gave the Highlanders a doubles win in the No. 3 spot with a 6-4 decision.

Falling behind 2-0, Nikhil Mannepalli made quick work of Rosen Ilchev in No. 4 singles as Mannepalli took a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Radford surged ahead, 3-2, behind wins from Meekers and Manzano in No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Meekers earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory and Manzano took a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 decision.

Florian Uffer defeated Samuel Taylor (7-6 (7-2), 6-3) in No. 2 singles to tie the match at three all.

Down to the final match, Janken Thoen came up with a big win in No. 3 singles. Thoen held on for a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win over Julian Farthing to send the Highlanders into the next round.

Radford and Coastal Carolina will meet in Thursday's Big South tournament quarterfinals at 11 a.m.

Radford (4) def. Longwood (3)
Cook Tennis Center
Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Doubles Competition
1. Alfonso Castellano / Julian Farthing (LWU) def. Alexandros Caldwell / Janken Thoen (RAD), 6-4
2. Florian Uffer / Lachlan Manser (LWU) def. Nikhil Mannepalli / Samuel Taylor (RAD), 6-2
3. Jose Moreno Manzano / Michiel Meekers (RAD) def. Rosen Ilchev / Bharani Sankar (LWU), 6-4

Order of Finish: (2,1*3)
*: Deciding Match

Singles Competition
1. Alfonso Castellano (LWU) def. Alexandros Caldwell (RAD), 6-0, 6-3
2. Florian Uffer (LWU) def. Samuel Taylor (RAD), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
3. Janken Thoen (RAD) def. Julian Farthing (LWU), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
4. Nikhil Mannepalli (RAD) def. Rosen Ilchev (LWU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Michiel Meekers (RAD) def. Bharani Sankar (LWU), 6-3, 6-3
6. Jose Moreno Manzano (RAD) def. Lachlan Manser (LWU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1

Order of Finish: (1,4,5,6,2,3*)
*: Deciding Match

Match Notes
Longwood (7-15)
Radford (4-15)

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Players Mentioned

Nikhil Mannepalli: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Michiel Meekers: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Jose Moreno Manzano: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Samuel Taylor: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

Janken Thoen: 6' 1"; Junior

Alexandros Caldwell: 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nikhil Mannepalli
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Michiel Meekers
: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Jose Moreno Manzano
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Samuel Taylor
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

Janken Thoen
: 6' 1"; Junior

Alexandros Caldwell
: 6' 0"; Freshman