Sept. 11, 2010
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina men's tennis team kicked off fall competition with a victory and tie against Francis Marion in round robin matches Saturday from the Billy Nichols Tennis Center.
In the morning match, the Chanticleers won by a final score of 3-2 after winning the doubles point and claiming two of four singles points.
Coastal seniors Matt Gordon and Peter Billingham defeated Ryan Siney and Stefan Ruprecht of Francis Marion in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 to pick up the doubles point for the Chants. Sophomore Yusuke Kusuda defeated Alex Caspari 6-3, 7-6 in the second singles match, while fellow sophomore John Karle downed Jack Bishop 6-1, 3-6, 10-4 in the final match to life the Chants to the win.
The two teams played a 10-point tiebreaker rather than a traditional third set to determine a winner.
The afternoon match featured a 3-3 tie after Coastal won the doubles point and tallied points in two of the five singles matches.
Senior Alex Funkhouser and Gordon earned the double points after winning 6-3, 6-0 in straight sets over Mickey Poirier and Tanguy Montoisy.
Billingham knocked off Karl Rogers 6-7, 6-3, 10-5 for a point before freshman Leo Christofides beat Dirk Bair 6-1, 6-3 to pull Coastal even with the Patriots.
"I was happy with the guy's play against a very well-coached Francis Marion squad," Coastal Carolina head coach Chris Powers said. "We had some guys out and the new players really stepped up in the morning matches, and I think we are heading in the right direction.
Coastal returns to action Friday at noon when the Chants welcome Campbell to the Billy Nichols Tennis Center.
Coastal Carolina 3, Francis Marion 2
Doubles Competition
Matt Gordon & Peter Billingham (Coastal) def. Ryan Siney & Stefan Ruptecht (Francis Marion) 6-2, 6-4
Singles Competition
Oshada Wijgmanne (Francis Marion) def. Alex Funkhouser (Coastal) 6-2, 3-1
Yusuke Kusuda (Coastal) def. Alex Caspari (Francis Marion) 6-3, 7-6
Karl Rogers (Francis Marion) def. Leo Christofides (Coastal) 6-1, 3-6, 10-4
John Karle (Coastal) def. Jack Bishop (Francis Marion) 6-1, 3-6, 10-4
Coastal Carolina 3, Francis Marion 3
Doubles Competition
Alex Funkhouser & Matt Gordon (Coastal) def. Mickey Poirier & Tanguy Montoisy (Francis Marion) 6-3, 6-0
Singles Competition
Oshada Wijgmanne (Francis Marion) def. Dorian Sovic (Coastal) 6-3, 7-5
Peter Billingham (Coastal) def. Karl Rogers (Francis Marion) 6-7, 6-3, 10-5
Ryan Siney (Francis Marion) def. Yusuke Kusuda (Coastal) 2-6, 6-2, 10-7
Alex Caspari (Francis Marion) def. John Karle (Coastal) 6-4, 6-1
Leo Christofides (Coastal) def. Dirk Bair (Francis Marion) 6-1, 6-3
