March 24, 2005

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Longwood University won its first men’s tennis match of the season with a 7-0 triumph past Morgan State University Thursday at the Hampton Roads Elite 8 Collegiate tournament in Virginia Beach.  The Lancers improved to 1-9 this season, and will play again Friday, March 25, against host Old Dominion University at 2 p.m. in Virginia Beach at the Elite 8 event.

Against Morgan State, Longwood swept all three doubles matches as well as all six singles contests.  In doubles, sophomore Rashko Patnikov/Bankya, Bulgaria (Smirnenski) and junior Ian Young/Bowie, Md. (Eleanor Roosevelt) won at #1 (8-4), as did junior Tobias Guennel/Plauen, Germany (Albert-Einstein) and freshman Mani Barajas-Alexander/Arlington (Bishop O’Connell) at #2 (8-0), along with senior Chris Newman/Chesapeake (Hickory) and freshman Ross McBee/Stafford (Colonial Forge) at #3 (8-3).

In singles, Patnikov won at #1 (6-1, 6-1), Newman at #2 (6-0, 6-2), Guennel at #3 (6-3, 6-0), Barajas-Alexander at #4 (6-2, 6-4), Young at #5 (4-6, 6-0, 10-3), and McBee at #6 (6-1, 7-5).

Hampton Roads Elite 8 Collegiate
Longwood 7 - Morgan State 0
Doubles
1. Rashko Patnikov-Ian Young (LU) def. (MS), 8-4
2. Tobias Guennel-Mani Barajas-Alexander (LU) def. (MS), 8-0
3. Chris Newman-Ross McBee (LU) def. (MS), 8-3

Singles
1. Patnikov (LU) def. (MS), 6-1, 6-1
2. Newman (LU) def. (MS), 6-0, 6-2
3. Guennel (LU) def. (MS), 6-3, 6-0
4. Barajas-Alexander (LU) def. (MS), 6-2, 6-4
5. Young (LU) def. (MS), 4-6, 6-0, 10-3
6. McBee (LU) def. (MS), 6-1, 7-5