March 30, 2010

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

The Coastal Carolina University men's tennis team defeated South Carolina State, 6-1 on Tuesday, March 30 at the Billy Nichols Tennis Courts. The Chanticleers improved to 12-5 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 8-8.

"South Carolina State has won the MEAC for several years so we're pleased with a good win today," said Head Coach Chris Powers. "However, I thought we lacked championship intensity today in places and it is very important that we have good practices the rest of the week. Radford has not lost on their courts for several years and they certainly are going to protect that record with everything they have."

The Chanticleers started the day taking the doubles point by winning all three matches. The No. 1 team consisting of juniors Matt Gordon and Peter Billingham defeated Radek Pivonka and Gabriel Meana 8-5, while No. 2 doubles of Ernesto Ramos and Alex Funkhouser topped Jan Langer and Dmytro Kovalevych, 8-4. Seniors Plamen Tzvetkov and Dmitry Vlaskin concluded doubles with an 8-5 win over Peters Vinogradous and David Grund.

Coastal continued to dominate in singles with Gordon taking the No. 1 position 6-4, 6-3 and Vlaskin in the No. 2 spot, winning 6-4, 6-1. Alex Funkhouser triumphed in No. 3 singles, 6-4, 7-5. Ramos and Kovalevych exchanged sets, until Ramos took the deciding third set 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. In No. 6 singles, junior Dorian Sovic edged Grund in the last two sets 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Chanticleers only fell in the No. 5 position, giving up a shut out to the Bulldogs.

The Chanticleers return to the road to take on Big South rival Radford on April 2 in Radford, Va. at 10 a.m.

Tennis Match Results

South Carolina State vs Coastal Carolina

Mar 30, 2010 at Conway, S.C.

(Billy Nichols Tennis Center)

Coastal Carolina 6, South Carolina State 1

Singles competition

1. Gordon, Matt (COASTAL) def. Radek Pivonka (SCSTATE) 6-4, 6-3

2. Vlaskin, Dmitry (COASTAL) def. O Nikitenko (SCSTATE) 6-4, 6-1

3. Funkhouser, Alex (COASTAL) def. Peters Vinogradous (SCSTATE) 6-4, 7-5

4. Ramos, Ernesto (COASTAL) def. Dmytro Kovalevych (SCSTATE) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

5. Alexandr Malko (SCSTATE) def. Tzvetkov, Plamen (COASTAL) 4-6, 6-3, 10-6

6. Sovic, Dorian (COASTAL) def. David Grund (SCSTATE) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. GORDON, Matt/BILLINGHAM, Peter (COASTAL) def. Radek Pivonka/Gabriel Meana (SCSTATE) 8-5

2. RAMOS, Ernesto/FUNKHOUSER, Alex (COASTAL) def. Jan Langer/Dmytro Kovalevych (SCSTATE) 8-4

3. TZVETKOV, Plamen/VLASKIN, Dmitry (COASTAL) def. Peters Vinogradous/David Grund (SCSTATE) 8-5

Match Notes:

South Carolina State 8-8

Coastal Carolina 12-5; Regional ranking #9