Men's Tennis Defeated Wofford 5-2

Friday, January 30

Boca Raton, Fla.

2:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Wofford

1/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Jan. 30, 2009

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University men's tennis played host to Wofford College in a match that was played under uncharacteristic weather conditions, but saw the FAU take the match 5-2. The Owls improved to 3-3 on the season and remain undefeated against teams that are not ranked in the nation's top-20.

"It was another good competitive match today," said Brandon Stokes, FAU's head coach. "Wofford brought what they always bring under Coach Ray, a strong will and confidence. This match will help us improve for Sunday."

Friday afternoon's match was played under windy gray skies with a threat of rain. The doubles matches heated things up with the first two matches ending with the team's holding a match each. FAU captured the first match at no. two doubles when Daniel Vardag ripped a run around forehand winner to seal the win with a final break of serve for FAU's Vardag and Joshua Scholl.

Wofford answered quickly with a resounding 8-2 win at no. 3 doubles. With the third match well under way, the doubles team point would come down to no. 1 doubles and the match of Eddie Majcher and Marc Abdelnour. FAU's no. 1 duo held a 6-5 lead, in a match that had already witnessed four service breaks, when the first two matches concluded. Majcher and Abdelnour earned a tough break of serve to lead 7-5 and served to clinch the team doubles point.

Riding the momentum of capturing the doubles point and the confidence of winning the double point for the third-consecutive match, FAU moved into singles play while fans used the intermission to warm up and the teams used the time to prepare for the six tenacious matches ahead.

Marc Abdelnour lead the way once again at no. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-2 victory to remain undefeated at 6-0. Lawrence Harradine followed with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at no. 3 singles.

Wofford then got on the scoreboard with a victory at no. 5 singles where a tense match concluded with a second-set 7-4 tiebreak to narrow the dual match score at 3-1. The Terriers turned in another victory that ended with a yelp on court no. 4 and a match that saw FAU hold a 3-2 team lead.

FAU was in control at no. 6 singles with Nieto Santiago up 6-4, 5-2 when Wofford began to surge. A break of serve put the ball back on Wofford's racket with a hold opportunity to seize control of the set. Santiago responded with a solid and aggressive return game which eventually broke the Terriers and clinched the dual match for FAU at 4-2.

No. 2 singles was immersed in its third set. Wofford assumed early control, but Daniel Vardag picked up his energy which gave new life to the fans that cheered and willed him to win. In the ninth game, Vardag had a routine hold and put pressure on Wofford to hold and stay in the match at 4-5. At a Wofford game point, Vardag returned a solid serve that proved too much for his Terrier opponent. The next two points were signature Daniel Vardag, pounding ground strokes. Vardag broke serve to win the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

"Thank you to the fans who endured the dropping temperatures and the biting wind chill! Bring the noise again noon Sunday."

Florida Atlantic University 5, Wofford College 2
Jan 30, 2009 at Boca Raton, FL
Singles competition
1. Marc Abdelnour (FAU) def. Scott Collins (WC) 6-1, 6-2
2. Daniel Vardag (FAU) def. Stuart Robertson (WC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
3. Lawrence Harradine (FAU) def. Paul Bartholomy (WC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Tinus Van Wyk (WC) def. Joshua Scholl (FAU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Alan Donald (WC) def. Eddie Majcher (FAU) 6-3, 7-6 (0-4)
6. Santiago Nieto (FAU) def. Michael Schecter (WC) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Eddie Majcher / Marc Abdelnour (FAU) def. Danny Manlow/Stuart Robertson (WC) 8-5
2. Daniel Vardag / Joshua Scholl (FAU) def. Alan Donald/Paul Bartholomy (WC) 8-1<>< 3.="" scott="" collins/tinus="" van="" wyk="" (wc)="" def.="">Lawrence Harradine / Santiago Nieto (FAU) 8-2

Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,3,5,4,6,2)