Men’s and Women's Tennis Split With Liberty

Radford, Va. -- Radford’s tennis teams split in Big South Conference action from the Dedmon Center Courts this afternoon. The women picked up their first win of the spring season, edging Liberty University, 4-3, while the men fell 5-2. The women improve to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the Big South, while the Lady Flames fall to 1-7 and 0-3 in the Conference. For the men, the Highlanders fall to 6-9 overall and 0-3 in BSC, while the Flames improve to 6-8 and 2-1 in the Conference.

The women opened by sweeping the doubles. In singles action, Jihane Najdi posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Ana GonzalezDorado at No. 1. Ashley Stevenson and Laura Dickenson earned the other Highlander victories with straight set victories over Maria Solc and Alison Cho at No. 4 and 5 respectively. Dickenson’s win puts her over .500 at 5-4, while Stevenson improves to 5-6.

On the men’s side, the Flames picked up at tightly contested doubles point, taking the No. 1 and 3 matches by 8-6 scores, while the Highlanders No. 2 team of Andre’ Cavaco and Arthur Vasarevic won a close match, 9-7. In single competition, Vasarevic and Robel Mengisteab earned wins at No. 4 and 6, improving their records to 8-4 and 8-7 respectively.

The Highlanders will be back in action on March 27 when they travel to High Point. The match begins at 1:30 p.m.

Women’s Results

Radford 4, Liberty 3

Singles
1. Jihane Najdi (RU) def. Ana GonzalesDorado, 6-1, 6-1
2. Clora GonzalesDorado (LU) def. Cristina Glas, 6-4, 6-4
3. Andreea Cotuna (LU) def. Caroline Downs (RU), 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Ashley Stevenson (RU) def. Maria Solc (LU), 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
5. Laura Dickinson (RU) def. Alison Cho (LU), 6-2, 6-1
6. Brooke Garman (LU) def. Amy Costello (RU), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1. Najdi/Downs (RU) def. Cotuna/A. GonzalesDorado (LU), 8-2
2. Dickenson/Stevenson (RU) def. Solc/Cho (LU), 8-4
3. Downs/Costello (RU) def. Christine Winner/C. GonzalesDorado (LU), 8-2

Men’s Results

Liberty 5, Radford 2

Singles
1. Braen Aneiros (LU) def. Brandon Johnson (RU), 6-4, 6-2
2. Ricardo Shinowzaki (LU) def. Joakim Arhammar (RU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Luiz Rino (LU) def. Andre’ Cavaco (RU), 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 10-8
4. Arthur Vasarevic (RU) def. Kenan Bell (LU), 6-1, 6-2
5. Ernesto Malagrino (LU) def. Dominic Soeur (RU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Robel Mengisteab (RU) def. Pritt Pihl (LU), 3-6, 6-2, 10-4

Doubles
1. Shinowzaki/Rino (LU) def. Johnson/Arhamma, 8-6
2. Cavaco/Vasarevic (RU) def. Aneiros/Bell, 9-7
3. Joel Moylan/Malgrino (LU) def. Soeur/Mengisteab, 8-6