Radford Men's Tennis Earns No. 3 Seed in Knoxville Regional; Draws Duke in Opening Round of NCAARadford Men's Tennis Earns No. 3 Seed in Knoxville Regional; Draws Duke in Opening Round of NCAA

RADFORD, Va. – Fresh off its third straight Big South Tournament title, Radford was tabbed the third seed in the Knoxville Regional and will take on second-seeded Duke in the first round of 2009 NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament Friday, May 8.

The winner of the Highlanders’ first-round matchup will advance to the round of 32 (May 9) to face the victor of the dual between top-seeded Tennessee (21-6) and fourth-seeded East Tennessee State (13-7).

Ranked 51st in the most recent ITA Rankings, the Highlanders defeated second-seeded Winthrop (April 18) in the 2009 Big South Championship to earn their third trip to the NCAA Tournament in as many years.

Radford (20-3), which is 5-3 against teams currently ranked in the Top 100, has won seven straight (five shutouts) and 13 of its last 14 to post its third 20-win season in school-history.

Along with climbing to a school and conference-best 46th in the national rankings earlier this year, the Highlanders have won four-straight regular season titles, 42 of their last 46 regular season matches, while losing just one Big South dual in the last four years.

With its win over James Madison to close the regular season, Radford ran its home winning streak to 34 consecutive.

Four-time Big South Player of the Year Martin Sayer (Hong Kong/Sagemont Virtual) is currently ranked 96th in singles play nationally, while Sayer and Zack Watson (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) are 54th in the nation in doubles.

As a team, the Highlanders are 99-29 (.773) in singles and 53-11 (.828) in doubles play. Through 23 matches, Radford has won the doubles point 20 times, including 18 of its last 20 matches.

The Blue Devils come in with a 15-8 overall record and are ranked 26th in the country.

The NCAA first and second rounds will take place May 8-9 at various sites across the country, with the finals to be held in College Station, Texas, May 14-25.