Longwood University Athletics

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Longwood standout Yulia Almiron opened her sophomore season with a bang, taking down Liberty's Alexandra Almborg and James Madison's Daria Afanasyeva to win both of her singles bouts on day one of the Liberty Invitational Saturday afternoon at The Cook Tennis Center.
 
Almiron, who went 8-11 as a Longwood freshman playing exclusively at the Nos. 1 and 2 slots last season, was unbeaten in singles play in her 2018-19 debut, edging both Almborg and Afanasyeva in three-set victories. She opened the weekend by knocking off Almborg 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 in the round of 32 in flight A, and followed with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 barnburner against Afanasyeva in flight B's round of 64.
 
A native of Madrid, Spain, Almiron had two of Longwood's four singles wins on the day and will enter day two of the Liberty Invitational two wins away from a championship berth in flight A and three from a trip to the title match in flight B.
 
Almiron was one of six Lancers to compete at the five-team event, joining a group that included Longwood juniors Jamie Breunig and Marija Venta, sophomore Crystal Nzewi and freshmen Emma Nurgaziera and Anika Tylek. Those Lancers competed in singles and doubles against a field that included James Madison, Liberty, Marshall and Wright State.
 
Along with Almiron's two victories, veterans Breunig and Venta also picked up wins in singles play and also teamed up for a doubles win in the tournament's round of 16. Breunig, who tied for the team lead with 11 wins a year ago, also squared off against Almborg in flight B's round of 64 and took down her Liberty counterpart in comeback fashion, 6-7, 6-1, 10-6. Venta, meanwhile, stepped up against Wright State's Grace Whitney and pulled out a 6-2, 6-7, 10-8 win in the same flight.
 
Venta and Breunig, who played together as Longwood's top doubles duo seven times in 2017-18, added their first doubles win of the year as well, knocking off the mixed-team tandem of Wright State's Anna Jones and James Madison's Jona Roka 6-4.
 
The Liberty Invitational will continue Sunday at The Cook Tennis Center.
 
Liberty Invitational
September 22, 2018 (Day 1)
Lynchburg, Va.
Longwood Results
 
Singles
Round of 32 (Flight A): Rebekah Anderson (LIB) def. Anika Tylek (LWU) 6-0, 6-0
Round of 32 (Flight A): Yulia Almiron (LWU) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIB) 4-6, 6-1, 10-5
Round of 32 (Flight A): Amanda Nord (JMU) def. Marija Venta (LWU) 6-1, 7-5
 
Round of 64 (Flight B): Marija Venta (LWU) def. Grace Whitney (WSU) 6-2, 6-7, 10-8
Round of 64 (Flight B): Jamie Breunig (LWU) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIB) 6-7, 6-1, 10-6
Round of 64 (Flight B): Anna Jones (WSU) def. Crystal Nzewi (LWU) 6-0, 6-2
Round of 64 (Flight B): Yulia Almiron (LWU) def. Daria Afanasyeva (JMU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
Round of 64 (Flight B): Amanda Nord (JMU) def. Anika Tylek (LWU) 6-1, 2-6, 10-5
Round of 64 (Flight B): Diane Flament (JMU) def. Emma Nurgaziera (LWU) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles
Round of 16 (Flight A): Anna Dollar/Ashley Bogart (LIB) def. Yulia Almiron/Anika Tylek (LWU) 6-1
Round of 16 (Flight A): Marija Venta/Jamie Breunig (LWU) def. Anna Jones/Jona Roka (WSU/JMU) 6-4
Round of 16 (Flight B): Anna Jones/Jillian Milano (WSU) def.  Marija Venta/Crystal Nzewi (LWU) 6-2
Round of 16 (Flight B): Alexandra Almborg/Lara Soares (LIB) def. Jamie Breunig/Emma Nurgaziera (LWU) 6-0
Round of 16 (Flight B): Diane Flament/Jona Roka (JMU) def. Yulia Almiron/Anika Tylek (LWU) 6-3

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