CCU

Men's Tennis Picks up Two wins on Saturday to Improve to 6-0 in 2007

       

Men's Tennis Picks up Two wins on Saturday to Improve to 6-0 in 2007

Off to the Best Start in Program History

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CONWAY, S.C.- The Coastal Carolina men's tennis team picked up two wins on Saturday defeating Gardner-Webb 5-2 and Winston-Salem State 7-0.  The 2007 Chanticleers have started the season at 6-0, which is the best start in program history.

In the first match of the day, the Chanticleers defeated the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb 5-2 in a competitive battle with many matches getting pushed to three sets.  At the number one spot in singles, junior David Mellis (London, England/Goffs) defeated Kim Ellis in three sets, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.   Senior Simon Taylor (Hampshire, England/Queen Mary's College) was defeated for the first time since the Fall ITA Regionals, falling to Evgeny Slearev 6-4, 6-3 in the number two hole.   Elliott Quibell (Derby, England/Cheam (Colorado)) defeated Roberto Vasques in a close three-set match after losing the first set 5-7 but winning the next two 6-1 and 7-5.  Sophomore Joseph Withers (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap (Liberty)) took down Taylor Ferrier 6-1, 6-1 while freshman Plamen Tzvetkov (Herts, United Kingdom/Stanborough) picked up a win against Gabe Veiga 7-6, 6-4.  In the sixth slot, senior Andy Caress (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) defeated Grant Van Rensburg in a heated three-set battle, 1-6, 6-4, 10-7. 

In doubles action, Taylor and Caress picked up a win in the number one slot after taking down Vasques and Ferrier 8-1 while Quibbell and Mellis fell to the Bulldog team of Veiga and Slesarev 8-4.  Tzvetkov and senior Richard Redding (Winscombe, England/Queen Elizabeth's Hospital) sealed the deal for Coastal gaining the doubles point after beating Ellis and Van Rensburg 8-5. 

In the second match of the day, the Chants swept Winston-Salem State 7-0.   At number one singles, Mellis again picked up a win after defeating Gilbert Princeston 6-2, 6-0.  Taylor and Withers both picked up wins after Taylor beat Troy Moore 6-2, 6-0 and Withers took down Ryan Lindquist 6-0, 6-0.  The last three Chants swept the Bulldogs in each set 6-0, 6-0, Tzvetkov against Andrew Jones, Caress against Phi Tran and Redding against Patrick Jenkins. 

In doubles action, the number one doubles team of Taylor and Caress took down Princeston and Moore 8-3 while Tzetkov and Redding swept Lindquist and Tran 8-0 in the two spot.  Withers and Mellis also picked up a win in the three doubles position against Jones and Daren Milbourne 8-0.

" Our team spirit carried us to a good win today against Gardner-Webb.  We gained momentum when we needed to in Singles and then the guys really fought out the win," Head Coach Chris Powers mentioned.   "This is a solid start to our young season, but there are real challenges in the upcoming matches.  Southern Conference Champion Furman and Campbell are both exceptional teams and we'll need our best effort next weekend."

The Chanticleers are back in action this weekend when they host Furman and Campbell on Friday, February 17.  The Furman match starts at 9 a.m. with the Campbell match to follow at 3 p.m.