October 16, 2008

ELON, N.C. - The Longwood University men's tennis team competed at the Elon Invitational October 10-11, with three members of the team finishing the invite with a 2-1 singles record. Senior Austin Brawley/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) was one of the three players that had put in a stellar performance for the Lancers. Longwood returns to the courts October 16-21, participating in the Wilson/ITA Championship in Chapel Hill, N.C.
   
Brawley opened play on Friday, October 10 with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Ian Kahler, but rebounded on Saturday with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over Alejandro Ordonez. Brawley then proceeded to shut out Chris Spalding later in the day, winning 6-0, 6-0.
   
Junior Andres Lazarte/Lima, Peru (Santa Rosa) also finished the invite with a 2-1 record, opening play on Friday with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Jeroen Kuppens. Lazarte began Saturday's competition with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Ignacio Velez, before falling later in the day to Cody Stauffer-MacDowell (3-6, 1-6).
   
Newcomer Nobu Tanaka/Potomac, Md. (St. Johns College HS) opened the Elon Invitational with a win of his own, taking down Beto Mondini in straight sets (7-5, 6-1), before winning his first game on Saturday against Alexandre Lord Andrade (4-1 ret.). Tanaka's only singles loss came late in the day Saturday, where he fell to Alberto Rojas 0-6, 4-6.
   
Junior Billy Heird/York, Pa. (Dallastown) finished the invite 1-2, falling to Lubos Sobotka on the opening day 3-6, 6-7 (5). Heird bounced back in his first game on Saturday, taking out Leandro Osorio 7-5, 6-4. In his final game, Heird was unable to pull out a win over Philip Nemec (0-6, 1-6).
   
Junior David Cardoso/Porto, Portugal (Externanto Lumen) finished the invite 1-2, defeating Loukas Wallaart 6-2, 6-3 on Friday, before falling to Nicolas Ospina on Saturday morning (6-4, 3-6, 1-0 [10-5]). Cardoso then fell to Chase Helpingstine, 1-6, 0-6, later in the day.
   
Sophomore Milo Barajas-Alexander/Arlington (Bishop O'Connell) had a 1-2 tournament, winning his opening game on Friday, 7-5, 6-2. Barajas-Alexander did not have the same luck on Saturday, falling 6-7 (6), 6-2, 0-1 (9-11) in the morning, before dropping his afternoon game to Clark Howell (2-6, 1-6).
   
Senior Brandon Lindsley/Woodbridge (Woodbridge) had a rough invite, dropping all three of his games, falling 3-6, 1-6 on Friday. Lindsley then fell to Jack Roux 2-6, 3-6 Saturday morning, before slipping 3-6, 2-6 later in the day. Classmate Carlos Garcia de Andoain/Madrid, Spain (Liceo Sorrolla 'C') suffered the same fate as Lindsley, finishing the invite 0-3. Garcia de Andoain battled tough against Larbi Lamzouri (6-7 [3], 6-2, 7-10) but was unable to pull out a win on Friday. Garcia de Andoain then fell 5-7, 3-6 Saturday morning, before losing 1-3 [ret.] later in the day.
   
In doubles, the teams of Tanaka/Barajas-Alexander and Brawley/Lazarte carried over their winning ways from singles earlier in the day, all finishing with 2-1 records. Tanaka/Barajas-Alexander opened with a 9-7 win on Friday, followed by a dominating 8-1 win Saturday morning. The duos only loss came late in the afternoon Saturday, where they dropped a close one (7-8 [5]). Brawley/Lazarte opened with a victory of their own, defeating Martinez/Kahler 8-4 on Friday. The pair then took their next match 8-2, before slipping Saturday afternoon5-8.
   
Lindsley/Garcia de Andoain also finished the invite 2-1 in doubles, opening with a 9-8 [4] win on Friday, followed by a 8-2 victory on Saturday morning. The pair then dropped their final match, Saturday afternoon, 2-8.
   
Cardoso/Heird finished the Elon Invitational with a 1-2 doubles record, falling on day one 4-8. The duo bounced back Saturday morning, pulling out a 8-2 victory, before falling 4-8 later in the day.