JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State men's tennis could not get the breaks they were looking for in singles play in Wednesday's 5-1 setback versus visiting Radford. The loss marks just the second home defeat of the season for the Gamecocks and halts a two-match winning streak. 
 
"Today was an absolute heartbreaker," associate head coach Trey Morris said. "The final score might not show it but this was a match that we felt in control of from the moment we started singles. Our guys fought hard and left it all out there and sadly fell short."
 
The Highlanders (5-4) claimed the doubles point with ease thanks to decisive wins on courts one and two. Though Konstantin Benneman and Alin Fatu held a lead in their flight, the no. 3 doubles was unfinished after Jax State (7-6) conceded the opening point.
 
After Radford tallied a quick victory to start singles action, Jacksonville State's Vanja Dobrnjac responded with a 6-4, 6-1, triumph on court four to put his team on the board. Unfortunately, singles competitors for the Gamecocks fell in three straight three-set heartbreakers to hand the match to the Highlanders. 
 
"The guys will have tomorrow off to rest and recover and then we will get back to work and correct some things ahead of Southern Miss on Monday," Morris added. 
 
Jax State returns to play Monday at the JSU Tennis Courts against Southern Miss in their final non-conference match of the season. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. in Calhoun County. The Gamecocks will travel to Eastern Kentucky next Friday, March 17, to open ASUN play before having their conference opener against North Alabama two days later. 
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Twitter (@JaxStateTN), Instagram (@JaxStateMTennis), and Facebook (Jacksonville State University Tennis) accounts. 
 
Tennis Match Results
JSU vs RU
3/8/2023 at Jacksonville, Ala.
RU 5, JSU 1
 
Singles Competition
 

1. Demis Taramonlis (RU) def. Xavier Sarda Marti (JSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Aditya Balsekar (RU) def. Alin Fatu (JSU) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1
3. Konstantinos Raptis (RU) def. Matei Palcau (JSU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Vanja Dobrnjac (JSU) def. Guilherme Severin (RU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Robert Hagen (RU) def. Lucius Soller (JSU) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4
6. Vicente Arbelaez (JSU) vs. Charles Courteau (RU) 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-6, unfinished

Doubles Competition
 

1. Demis Taramonlis/Konstantinos Raptis (RU) def. Xavier Sarda Marti/Lucius Soller (JSU) 6-0
2. Aditya Balsekar/Guilherme Severin (RU) def. Alejandro Beneyto Sanchez/Vanja Dobrnjac (JSU) 6-1
3. Konstantin Benneman/Alin Fatu (JSU) vs. Charles Courteau/Robert Hagen (RU) 3-2, unfinished