GREENVILLE, N.C. – Longwood men's tennis battled Sunday versus host East Carolina, but fell short to a stout lineup 6-1 to close the East Carolina Invitational 1-1.

Freshman Valentin Popescu grabbed the Lancers' lone tally in singles play as he kept his unbeaten streak alive behind a strong 6-3, 6-3 sweep of the Pirates' Freddie McGeehan. Popescu's win pushes his spring record to 4-0, all his wins coming at court No. 2, and carries his four-match win streak into Longwood's battle with UNCW in 13 days.

Longwood (3-2) entered Sunday's contest with back-to-back 7-0 victories under their belt but were unable to carry that momentum after falling behind early 1-0 in doubles play.

Playing on court No. 6, freshman Daniel Hernandez took an early 6-2 lead over counterpart Javier Renones, but was unable to close as Renones battled back for the three-set 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (9) win.

All three of Amadeo Blasco, Raisei Sakai and Julian Farthing carried win streaks into Sunday's match before falling at courts one, three and four to counterparts Vlad Anghel, Ronny Georgi, and Kasey Countee. Both Blasco and Sakai had three-match streaks snapped while Farthing had a seven-match run dating back to the fall season.

The Lancers get two weeks off before hitting the road once more to tangle with UNCW and former Big South rival Coastal Carolina followed by their home debut and Big South opener against heated rival Liberty to open the March slate.

East Carolina 6, Longwood 1
Feb. 11, 2018
Greenville, N.C.

Singles:
1. Vlad Anghel (ECU) def. Amadeo Blasco (LWU) 7-6 (3), 6-2
2. Valentin Popescu (LWU) def. Freddie MCGeehan (ECU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Ronny Georgi (ECU) def. Raisei Sakai (LWU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Kasey Countee (ECU) def. Julian Farthing (LWU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Wisse Jonker (ECU) def. Jorge Godoy (LWU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Javier Renones (ECU) def. Daniel Hernandez (LWU) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (9)

Doubles:
1. McGeehan/Anghel (ECU) def. Hernandez/Sakai (LWU) 6-1
2. Blasco/Farthing (LWU) vs. Countee/Georgi (ECU) 3-4 – unfinished
3. Jonker/Renones (ECU) def. Godoy/Popescu (LWU) 6-2

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