Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men's tennis team fell, 5-2, against Presbyterian College (3-6) in the squad's 2013 home opener and its first-ever Big South Conference match. Senior Giorgi Khmiadashvili /Tbilisi, Georgia earned the Lancers only singles victory of the day in the #1 position. Longwood (2-3) will return to action to host Morgan State University on Saturday, February 23. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Lancer Courts in Farmville.

“We came out very strong against last year's Big South runner-up and played some great doubles,” said head coach Jakob Gustafsson. “I have to give credit to Presbyterian, though, for playing great singles after that. Giorgi led the team to our first singles point with some great tennis, but unfortunately all margins weren't on our side today. We tried to claw our way back into some matches, but are still looking to improve one or two levels before hitting our prime. We are far from discouraged and look to work hard before our next match.”

Longwood opened the day with a win in the #1 doubles position from Khmiadashvili and partner sophomore Daniel Elston/St. Austell, Cornwall, England, as the duo defeated Rafael Berhaus and Grayson Mills, 8-4. Sophomore Harry Kelleher/Sydney, Australia and junior Edward Becker/Sydney, Australia lost, 8-2, at #2, but sophomore Steed Johnson/Ahoskie, N.C. and freshman James Fudge/Kaarst, Germany wrapped up doubles play with an 8-2 victory at #3 to earn the point for the Lancers.

Khmiadashvili defeated Mills (7-5, 6-0) to open singles play, earning LU's only other point of the competition. Elston pushed his match against William O'Connell to three sets with a 6-3 victory in the second set, but would eventually lose the point (5-7, 6-3, 1-6) at #2. Becker fell in the #3 singles position, while Kelleher, Johnson and Fudge suffered losses at #4, #5 and #6, respectively, as well.

Singles
1. Khmiadashvili WON against Mills 7-5, 6-0
2. Elston LOST to O'Connell 5-7, 6-3, 1-6
3. Becker LOST to Berghaus 3-6, 2-6
4. Kelleher LOST to Bruce 4-6, 2-6
5.  Johnson LOST to Brigham 6-7 (2), 2-6
6. Fudge LOST to Asis 0-6, 0-6

Doubles
1. Khmiadashvili/Elston WON against Berghaus/Mills 8-4
2. Kelleher/Becker LOST to Brigham/O'Connell 2-8
3. Fudge/Johnson WON agianst Bruce/Crocker 8-2