ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University men’s tennis team fell 5-2 to South Carolina State (10-5) Friday, March 20 at the SCSU Tennis Courts. The Chanticleers (11-3, 1-0 Big South) swept doubles play to earn the point but the Bulldogs picked up five of the six singles matches to win the match.

 

Coastal Carolina’s doubles teams played some tough matches to start the contest with senior German Perez and Ernesto Ramos winning a 9-8 decision over Radek Pivonka and Gabriel Meana on court one. The same result ensued on court three with senior Joseph Withers and sophomore John Hairston getting the victory over South Carolina State’s David Grund and Jan Langer. Juniors Dmitry Vlaskin and Plamen Tzvetkov had an easier time on court two with an 8-5 win to sweep doubles play for the Chants.

 

South Carolina State owned much of singles play as Perez, Tzvetkov, Withers and sophomore Dorian Sovic dropped their matches in straight sets. The Chanticleers split their three-set matches with Ramos picking up Coastal Carolina’s second point of the day with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Pivonka at No. 2, while Vlaskin fell 5-7, 7-6, 10-8 to Langer at No. 5.

 

“I thought we were really flat today,” Head Coach Chris Powers commented. “It might have been our worst overall performance of the season, but we are looking forward to get back into conference play Monday when Radford comes to our courts.”

 

The Chanticleers will step back into Big South play when they host No. 48 Radford Monday, March 23 at the Billy Nichols Tennis Center.