ELON, N.C. – Elon’s Oscar Podlewski outslugged No. 56 Radford’s Ivan Salec 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) at No. 2 singles, lifting the Phoenix to a 4-3 non-league men’s tennis upset of the nationally-ranked Highlanders – Elon’s 13th victory in 14 matches and Radford’s second setback in 13 contests – Sunday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
In the process, the Phoenix (14-4) beat a nationally-ranked opponent for the fourth consecutive season and improved to a sizzling 72-21 (.774) over the last four seasons since struggling through a 5-17 campaign in 2005. Elon has now won 11 consecutive tilts.
“It took all of our guys’ best efforts to beat a quality and classy Radford team today,” Phoenix coach Michael Leonard said. “This was such a hard-fought match. It’s great to see Oscar clinch the win for us. It validates all of his hard work. Things won’t get any easier for us as we face two more great teams this week when we visit Davidson Wednesday (3 p.m.) and host Furman Saturday (1 p.m.).”
The Highlanders (13-3) dropped the doubles point for just the second time all year to open the match. Radford’s Salec and Mehdi Benhammou decisioned Chase Helpingstine and Carlin Murray 8-5 at No. 2 doubles for the day’s first victory, but a win by Elon’s Alberto Rojas and Cody Stauffer MacDowell over Igor Ogrizek and Stefan Bojic 8-5 at No. 3 evened the doubles standings.
In a battle of nationally-ranked doubles teams, the No. 48 tandem of Damon Gooch and Philip Nemec outdueled the No. 50 duo of Martin Sayer – a Davis Cup player and three-time NCAA tournament qualifier – and Zack Watson 8-6 at No. 1 to seize the doubles point for an early 1-0 advantage for the Phoenix.
Nemec stormed past Bojic 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles to extend the Elon edge to 2-0, but No. 120 Sayer staved off No. 66 Gooch 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 to cut the Highlanders’ deficit in half at 2-1. Rojas foiled Ogrizek 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 to put the Phoenix up 3-1 and set the stage for Podlewski’s heroics.
Radford salvaged the last two singles flights when Watson overcame Stauffer MacDowell 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 at No. 6 and Benhammou outlasted Helpingstine 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-5 at No. 4. The Highlanders will conclude their regular season with six-straight home contests beginning with a match against Southern Conference member Appalachian State – ranked nationally earlier this month – at 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Elon All-Time Victories Over Nationally-Ranked Opponents
April 2, 2006 – Elon 5, No. 69 Furman 2 (at Elon)
Feb. 24, 2007 – Elon 4, No. 37 South Carolina 1 (at South Carolina)
March 11, 2007 – No. 43 Elon 5, No. 55 Furman 2 (at Furman)
April 22, 2007 – No. 44 Elon 4, No. 57 College of Charleston 1 (SoCon Tourney Final at Charleston)
Jan. 28, 2008 – No. 53 Elon 4, No. 71 Princeton 3 (at Duke)
March 29, 2009 – Elon 4, No. 56 Radford 3 (at Elon)
–ELON–
