Longwood University Athletics

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The weather isn't the only thing heating up on Longwood's spring break.
 
Extending their week-long tour of the south, Longwood women's tennis team (4-2) used a dominant effort in singles play to take down Bethune-Cookman 5-2 and win their second straight match Wednesday afternoon at City Island Tennis Center.
 
The Lancers (4-2), who just 24 hours earlier rolled Savannah State 5-2 in Savannah, Ga., recovered from a 235-mile trip to the Sunshine State in time to nearly sweep the Wildcats (0-5) in singles and extend the program's best start since the 2003-04 season.
 
Longwood's most recent addition to their 4-2 record came by way of five singles wins, including straight-sets victories at the No. 2 slot by Yulia Almiron, No. 4 by Kaori Terunuma and No. 5 by Tanja Skalda. Ace Marija Venta also grinded out a three-set win at the No. 1 position, which was her second straight win at Longwood's top spot.

"We came out flat in doubles, but the team was able to stay disciplined through the singles matches," said Longwood head coach Maria Lopez, whose 4-2 record in her second year matches that 2003-04 Longwood team's start more than a decade ago.

"They competed hard and showed tremendous heart in all positions. The team is starting to believe in what they are capable of doing, and the work they put in during the offseason is paying off."
 
The strong showing in singles play helped Longwood overcome a doubles point loss in which Bethune-Cookman's Rehanna Butt and Makea Roki defeated Venta and Jamie Breunig 6-2, and Karen Romero and Alejandra Vidal took down Longwood's No. 2 duo of Terunuma and Almiron 6-1. However, Almiron, Terunuma and Venta all turned the tables in short order, each picking up singles wins to lock up the win.
 
Venta knocked off Bethune-Cookman's No. 1 Matea Roki 6-1 ,2-6 and 7-5, while Almiron won at No. 2 over Butt 6-2, 7-5 and Terunuma at No. 4 over Romero 7-6, 6-4.
 
Skalda also earned a win at No. 5 over Phatismo Ruele 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to improve to a team-best 4-1 on the year.

After the back-to-back wins on consecutive days, the Lancers will get a one-day reprieve from competition before facing their toughest test of the season in the culmination of their three-match spring break trip. That showdown, which will be Longwood's sixth in the past 10 days, will pit the Lancers against No. 41 Miami this Friday in Coral Gables, Fla.
 
"We have one more match against a tough opponent, and I'm looking forward to watching them execute their game at that level," Lopez said.

Longwood 5, Bethune-Cookman 2
Mar 07, 2018 at Daytona Beach, Fla. (City Island Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. VENTA, Marija (LWUW) def. ROKI,Matea (BCUW) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
2. ALMIRON, Yulia (LWUW) def. BUTT,Rehanna (BCUW) 6-2, 7-5
3. VIDAL,Alejandra (BCUW) def. BREUNIG, Jamie (LWUW) 5-7, 6-5, 6-4
4. TERUNUMA, Kaori (LWUW) def. ROMERO,Karen (BCUW) 7-6, 6-4
5. SKALDA, Tanja (LWUW) def. RUELE,Phatismo (BCUW) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. CANDIOTTO, Julia (LWUW) def. No player (BCUW), by default
 
Doubles competition
1. ROKI,Matea/BUTT,Rehanna (BCUW) def. BREUNIG, Jamie/VENTA, Marija (LWUW) 6-2
2. VIDAL,Alejandra/ROMERO,Karen (BCUW) def. ALMIRON, Yulia/TERUNUMA, Kaori (LWUW) 6-1
3. CANDIOTTO, Julia/SKALDA, Tanja (LWUW) def. No player/No player (BCUW), by default
 
Match Notes
Longwood 4-2
Bethune-Cookman 0-5

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