FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men's tennis team was handed a 6-1 loss by Big South Conference opponent Coastal Carolina University on Friday afternoon at the Lancer Courts in Farmville. Sophomore Steed Johnson/Ahoskie, N.C. led the Lancers in the match, picking up the squad's only victory of the day. Longwood will return to action on Wednesday, April 3 when it travels to North Carolina Central University for a 1 p.m. tilt.

“Coastal Carolina showed why they are No. 1 in the conference right now,” said head coach Jakob Gustafsson. “We played them very tough even without playing our best tennis. If we can keep on improving and continue to be as competitive as we are right now, then we should be very strong come conference tournament time.”

Johnson defeated Matias Di Pasquale in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 10-8) in the #5 singles position to score the lone point of the day for the Lancers. Senior Giorgi Khmiadashvili/Tbilisi, Georgia and sophomore Daniel Elson/St. Austell, Cornwall, England were both defeated at #1 and #2, respectively, as Khmiadashvili fell 7-6, 6-4, and Elston fell 7-5, 6-1. Junior Edward Becker/Sydney, Australia, sophomore Harry Kelleher/Sydney, Australia and freshman Justin Higgs/Nassau, Bahamas all faced setbacks in singles competition, as well.

In doubles play, Elston and Becker were defeated, 8-5, in the #1 position, while Johnson and Kelleher lost 8-6 at #2 and Khmiadashvili and Sankar were defeated 8-1 at #3.

Singles:
1.       Khmiadashvili LOST to Christofedes 7-6, 6-4
2.       Elston LOST to Kusuda 7-5, 6-1
3.       Becker LOST to Yedigarian 6-1, 6-4
4.       Kelleher LOST to Nilsson 6-2, 6-3
5.       Johnson WON against DiPasquale 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
6.       Higgs LOST to Whalen 6-3, 6-2

Doubles:
1.       Elston/Becker LOST to DiPasquale/Yedigarian 8-5
2.       Khmiadashvili/Johnson LOST to Karle/Christofides 8-6
3.       Sankar/Kelleher LOST to Nilsson/Kusuda 8-1