SARVER SENDS RADFORD TO BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINALS IN 4-3 WIN OVER LONGWOOD

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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Tied at three and down to its last set, No. 9 Radford captured a 4-3 upset win over No. 8 Longwood as Grace Sarver battled back for a (6-3, 4-6, 6-2) victory, Friday afternoon in the Big South Tournament first round matchup.

The Highlanders dropped the first doubles match, but stormed back for the point, taking No. 1 and 2 doubles. Tarrannum Handa and Meili Martin earned a hard fought 7-6 (7-3) deciding match victory in No. 2 action.

Mason Thomas tied the match at one, taking No. 5 singles over Taylor Fay. The tie was short lived as Radford took a commanding 3-1 lead.

The lead came on the backs of a Natalie Sayer 6-2, 7-5 win in the No. 1 flight and a 6-2, 6-2 victory by Handa in the second flight.

Radford only needed one win to capture the match, but it would not come at an easy price.

The Lancers went on to take the next two matches in No. 6 and No. 3 singles.

With only the No. 4 singles match remaining, Sarver gave the Highlanders their second consecutive first round win.

The Highlanders (2-14) return to action tomorrow in a quarterfinal matchup with No. 1 Liberty at 9 a.m.

Radford (4) def. Longwood (3)
Cook Tennis Center (Lynchburg, Va.)
Friday, April 15, 2016

Doubles competition
1. Natalie Sayer / Grace Sarver (RU) def. Fallon Burger / Isis Gill-Reid (LWU), 6-4
2. Tarrannum Handa / Meili Martin (RU) def. Anna Pelak / Mason Thomas (LWU), 7-6 (7-3)
3. Paloma Alatorre / Maria Coronel (LWU) def. Taylor Fay / Claire Nguyen (RU), 6-3

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

Singles competition
1. Natalie Sayer (RU) def. Fallon Burger (LWU), 6-2, 7-5
2. Tarrannum Handa (RU) def. Anna Pelak (LWU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Isis Gill-Reid (LWU) def. Meili Martin (RU), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Grace Sarver (RU) def. Paloma Alatorre (LWU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
5. Mason Thomas (LWU) def. Taylor Fay (RU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Maria Coronel (LWU) def. Karlie Pope (RU), 6-3, 6-3

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

Match Notes
Radford (2-14, 1-8 BSC)
Longwood (10-14, 2-7 BSC)

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Fay: 5' 4"; Senior

Grace Sarver: 5' 2"; Senior

Natalie Sayer: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Meili Martin: 5' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

Claire Nguyen: 5' 3"; Freshman

Karlie Pope: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Tarrannum Handa: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Taylor Fay
: 5' 4"; Senior

Grace Sarver
: 5' 2"; Senior

Natalie Sayer
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Meili Martin
: 5' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

Claire Nguyen
: 5' 3"; Freshman

Karlie Pope
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Tarrannum Handa
: 5' 6"; Freshman