Washington D.C.—Finishing their four-match gauntlet in five days and defeating Hampden Sydney 7-0 the day before, the Longwood men's tennis team cleared the courts in the nation's capital at the Banneker Recreation Center on Sunday.
The Lancers (10-5) tarnished the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competitor's senior day, 6-1 as the men rallied behind their teammates on the Bisons' (1-8) home court. Longwood won all but one match on the day, suffering that line defeat due to an injury at the No. 6 spot.
Leading the way for the Longwood squad was Amadeo Blasco and Guilherme Sergio, who won their 11th match as a pair 6-1 over Roger Lyn and Karim Shokeir. Marc Casasnovas and Rosen Naydenov followed their teammates in a 6-3 win over Kyle Martin and DeVaughn Blackburn. Ending the domination of doubles play was Raisei Sakai and Guillermo Cagigas 6-4 as the took down Cole Gittens and Sagar Raju on court two.
"After the tough lost against Campbell the team needed a fresh start, and these two wins are the new emotional foundation to get back on our feet and fight until the end," head coach Jhonnatan Medina Alvarez said. "Sometimes life will put you in situations to test your ability to adapt and persevere. And, for me that's what makes a person stronger. I hope my guys understand the value of learning by struggling."
The two weekend wins earned by the Lancers were needed before headed into conference play in the upcoming weeks.
Sweeping the courts for the second-time this weekend in singles play, the Lancers remained unbeaten except for the default match. No. 2 Sergio continued his win streak to 12 wins on the season, defeating Gittens 6-1, 6-1. Sakai and Cagigas won on courts four and three, while Naydenov finished on court five 8-0 against Rasu.
"Today was a good day in terms of being in a positive mindset. The win was important in terms of bouncing back from the tough loss we had last week against Campbell," Naydenov said. "The guys took care of business and at the end of the day that is what counts. Next Saturday we play against Presbyterian and we are prepared."
Blasco won his 20th match of the season and 70th of his career, defeating Lyn 6-1, 3-6, 7-6.
The Lancers will have six days to recover before headed into a two conference match weekend on Saturday, March 30 against Presbyterian and Sunday against UNC Asheville.
#GoWood
Longwood 6, Howard 1
3/24/2019
Washington D.C. (Banneker Recreation Center)
Singles competition
1. BLASCO, Amadeo (LWU) def. LYN, Roger (HOWM) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6
2. SERGIO, Guilherme (LWU) def. GITTENS, Cole (HOWM) 6-1, 6-1
3. CAGIGAS, Guillermo (LWU) def. SHOKEIR, Karim (HOWM) 6-0, 6-3
4. SAKAI, Raisei (LWU) def. MARTIN, Kyle (HOWM) 6-1, 6-0
5. NAYDENOV, Rosen(LWU) def. RAJU, Sagar (HOWM) 8-0
6. CASANOVAS, Marc (LWU) def. BLACKBURN, DeVaughn (HOWM) 0-WW
Doubles competition
1. BLASCO, Amadeo/SERGIO, Guilherme (LWU) def. LYN, Roger/ SHOKEIR, Karim (HOWM) 6-1
2. SAKAI, Raisei/CAGIGAS, Guillermo (LWU) def. /DRISKILL, William (HOWM) 6-4
3. CASANOVAS, Marc/NAYDENOV, Rosen (LWU) def. MARTIN, Kyle/BLACKBURN,DeVaughn (HOWM) 6-3
Match Notes
Longwood 10-5
Howard 1-8
