VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Pierre Tafelski era as Longwood men's tennis head coach opened in grand style over the weekend, as sophomore Alfonso Castellano and freshman Julian Farthing won a pair of singles matches to capture the title of the Villanova Invitational Sunday, as the Lancers opened the 2015-16 season.
 
"For our first competition of the year, the team came out prepared and ready to fight," Tafelski said. "There is still a lot of work ahead of us but it gives us great confidence for our future matches."
 
The Lancers were one of four teams competing in the tournament, along with Chestnut Hill, Loyola and the host Wildcats. Teams of two players were paired together in a regular draw with each round consisting of one doubles and two singles matches. The team that won two out of the three matches moved on to the next round.
 
Throughout the three-day event, the Lancers combined for 19 victories including 13 singles victories and six doubles wins. The team of Castellano and Farthing went 3-1 in doubles and a combined 7-0 mark in singles. Farthing, a product of London, England, notched a 3-0 singles record throughout the weekend and clinched the title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Villanova's Bradley Noyes.
 
"As a freshman, Julian showed great character to clinch the final point," Tafelski said.
 
Junior Florian Uffer and sophomore Lachlan Manser paired up and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament, achieving a combined five wins in singles and doubles throughout. The pair advanced to the semis following a 3-0 victory over Villanova's Thomas Dodson and Alastair Hurry.  
 
Bharani Sankar and Rosen Ilchev also competed for the Lancers, falling in their opening match to Chestnut Hill's Alejandro Robles and Pedro Oranges de Fiqueredo. However, the pair was able to rebound with a 3-0 victory in a consolation match.
 
Longwood will have three weeks off before traveling to the George Mason Invitational Oct 3-4.
 
First Round:
Florian Uffer/Lachlan Manser (Longwood) def. Lucas Bocaletto/Pedro Regalin (Chestnut Hill), 2/1 Won
Doubles: Uffer/Manser def. Bocaletto/Regalin, 7-5
Singles 1: Bocaletto def. Uffer , 6-2, 6-3
Singles 2: Manser def. Regalin 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
 
Alfonso Castellano/Julian Farthing (Longwood) def. Connor Pietrak/Alex Castro (Loyola), 3-0
Doubles: Castellano/Farthing def. Pietrak/Castro,  6-3
Singles 1: Castellano def. Pietrak, 6-0, 6-4
Singles 2: Farthing def. Castro, 6-2, 6-2
 
Alejandro Robles/ Pedro Fiqueredo (Chestnut Hill) def. Bharani Sankar/Rosen Ilchev (Longwood), 2-1         
Sankar/Ilchev won a consolation match 3-0 after their lose
Lost Doubles: Robles/ Fiqueredo def. Sankar/Ilchev,  6-4
Won Singles 1: Sankar def. Robles, 7-6, 6-1
Lost Singles 2: Fiqueredo def. Ilchev, 6-2, 4-6, 10-6
 
Quarterfinals:
Florian Uffer/Lachlan Manser (Longwood) def. Alastair Hurry/Thomas Dodson (Villanova), 3-0
Doubles: Uffer/Manser def. Hurry/Dodson, 6-2
Singles 1: Uffer def. Hurry, 6-2, 6-2
Singles 2: Manser def. Dodson, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
 
Alfonso Castellano/Julian Farthing (Longwood) def. Jonathon Ducretot / PierreKholer (Chestnut Hill), 3-0
Doubles: Castellano/Farthing def. Ducretot/Kholer, 6-2
Singles 1: Castellano def. Ducretot, 6-4, 6-2
Singles 2: Farthing def. Kholer, 9-8
 
Semifinals:
Chris Seitz/Bradley Noyes (Villanova) def. Florian Uffer/Lachlan Manser (Longwood), 2-0
Doubles: Seitz/Noyes def. Uffer/Manser, 6-1
Singles 1: Seitz def. Uffer 6-4, 7-6 
Singles 2: DNP


Alfonso Castellano/Julian Farthing (Longwood) def. Luis Miranda/William Elmore (Villanova), 2-0
Doubles: Castellano/Farthing def. Miranda/Elmore, 6-2
Singles 1: Castellano def. Miranda, 6-4, 6-3
Singles 2: DNP
 
Final:
Alfonso Castellano/Julian Farthing (Longwood) def. Chris Seitz/Bradley Noyes (Villanova),  2-1
Doubles: Seitz/Noyes def. Castellano/Farthing, 6-4
Singles 1: Castellano def. Seitz, 6-4, 6-3
Singles 2: Farthing def. Noyes, 6-4, 6-4
 
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