Oct. 18, 2009

For the first time in school history, the Coastal Carolina University men's tennis team put two singles players and one doubles team through three rounds of the ITA Carolinas Regional on Oct. 15-17, taking place in Chapel Hill, N.C.

"We had some guys that came ready to compete at a high level this weekend," Coastal Carolina head men's tennis coach Chris Powers said. "Alex Funkhouser, Matt Gordon, and Ernesto Ramos stepped onto the big stage against excellent competition and represented Coastal Carolina with determination and intensity. On the other hand, I was disappointed with my other senior's performances."

In singles, Gordon and Funkhouser made it to round 16 of the 128-player main draw. The doubles team of Gordon and Ramos made a run, losing right before the quarterfinals.

In singles, Funkhouser began his advancement in the tournament when he beat Patrick Obloo of N.C. Central 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Funkhouser then defeated Chris Mark of Davidson, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Reid Carlton of Duke stopped Funkhouser in a tough 6-4, 7-6 (8) win.

Gordon defeated Charlotte's Jesse Hurtchinson, 6-2, 6-2 and Alex Ragiee of North Carolina, 6-1, 6-4. He was defeated in the round of 16 to the number-two ranked Diego Cubas of South Carolina 6-2, 7-5.

Ramos also made a one-round advancement by beating Felix Bernhoerster of Charlotte, 7-5, 6-4, but losing to ninth ranked Brennan Boyajian of North Carolina, 6-3, 6-1.

Three other Chanticleers: Dorian Sovic, Dmitry Vlaskin and Plamen Tzvetkov, were all accepted into the main draw, but lost in the first round.

In doubles action, the run of Gordon and Ramos, who were ranked 13th, proved why when they began by beating the doubles team of Micahel Nicol and Zach Sprouse of Presbyterian 8-3. They continued to the second round, defeating Alberto Rojas and Eric Turner of Elon, 8-6. Gordon and Ramos were defeated by second ranked Reid Carleton and Henrique Cunha of Duke, 8-4.

The doubles teams of Funkhouser/Sovic and Tzvetkov/Vlaskin were both defeated in the first round of play in the main draw.

"In the spring, the goal is to win the Big South Conference Championship," Powers said. "We have to get a lot tougher and unified as team for a title run or we will have missed a golden opportunity."

The Chanticleers will start regular season play at UNC Wilmington on January 23, 2010.

Singles
Peter Jacobs (Applachian State) def. Dorian Sovic (Coastal) 6-4, 6-3
Illia Ziamotsov (UNC Wilmington) def. Dmitry Vlaskin (Coastal), 6-4, 6-1
Chris Cooprider (UNC Wilmington) def.Plamen Tzvetkov (Coastal), 6-1, 6-2

Alex Funkhouser (Coastal) def. Patrick Obloo (NC Central), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Alex Funkhouser (Coastal) def. Chris Mark (Davidson), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Reid Carlton (Duke) def. Alex Funkhouser (Coastal), 6-4, 7-6 (8)

Ernesto Ramos (Coastal) def. Felix Bernhoerster (Charlotte), 7-5, 6-4
Brennan Boyajian (9) (UNC) def. Ernesto Ramos (Coastal), 6-3, 6-1

Matt Gordon (Coastal) def. Jesse Hutchinson (Charlotte), 6-2, 6-2
Matt Gordon (Coastal) def. Alex Rafiee (UNC), 6-1, 6-4
Diego Cubas (2) (USC) def. Matt Gordon (Coastal), 6-2-7-5

Doubles

Lucas Koncillia/Kyle Parker (Charleston) def. Alex Funkhouser/Dorian Sovic (Coastal), 9-7
William Parker/Cameron Ahari (UNC) def. Plamen Tzvetkov/Dmitry Vlaskin (Coastal), 8-6

Matt Gordon/Ernesto Ramos (13) (Coastal) def. Micahel Nicol/Zach Sprouse (Presbyterian) 8-3
Matt Gordon/Ernesto Ramos (13) (Coastal) def. Alberto Rojas/Eric Turner (Elon), 8-6
Reid Carleton/ Henrique Cunha (2) (Duke) def. Matt Gordon/Ernesto Ramos (13) (Coastal) 8-4