CHARLOTTE, N.C. - App State men's tennis posted a resilient 4-3 victory over No. 66 Charlotte on Friday afternoon at the Halton-Wagner Tennis Complex.
The Mountaineers are now 3-9 on the season while Charlotte falls to 6-6.
After going 0-3 in their last three matches when decided by a point, the Apps edged the hosts thanks to timely victories by the upperclassmen and the clinching doubles win by the newcomers.
Milo Bargeron capped off a stellar day with the match-clinching triumph over Henry Lieberman as the No. 1 in the lineup in three sets. The first two sets went to a tiebreaker with Bargeron and Lieberman trading off wins. Bargeron then started strong out the gate in the final frame to defeat Lieberman, 6-1.
App State started the match in a big way when
Alex Pavkovich and Bargeron won their doubles contest as the No. 2 in the lineup over
Ignasi de Rueda/C. Christoforou, 6-1.
Zion Heaven/
Matvey Radionov narrowly fell to Collin Thomson/Cole Brainard, 6-4, setting up the doubles point to come down to the top tandems.
Alessio Azzalini and
Aleksandar Petrovic stepped up with the pivotal 6-2 triumph over No. 48 Benjamin Wayand/Lieberman.
Charlotte responded by winning the first two singles matches to go up 2-1, after capturing courts two and four. Pavkovich continued his solid day as he tied up the contest following his 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Brainard.
The 49ers went up 3-2 after a win on the fourth court before App won the final two finished contests.
Blake Carter's 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 clutch straight-set victory against Thomson set up the thrilling finale that came down to the final frame.
App State will look for the 2-0 finish to the weekend tomorrow at 3 p.m. against North Florida.
