FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood men's and women's tennis kicked off a very busy week that will see the men host three dual meets and the women host four. Both the men's and women's teams picked up victories against in-state foe Norfolk State, winning 6-1 and 4-3 respectively.
 
Singles:
Men's
No. 1: LWU Guillermo Cagigas def. NSU Federico Rebecchini 6-3, 6-4
No. 2: LWU Timeo Puech def. NSU Hugo Massoni Lena 6-2, 6-2
No. 3: LWU Alejandro Uribe def. NSU Adam Kaczmarek 5-7, 2-1 (retired)
No. 4: LWU Luis Reis def. NSU Ibrahim Abbas 6-1, 6-0
No. 5: NSU Boris Lunin def. LWU Gary Huang 6-3, 2-6, 6-10
No. 6: LWU Vselovod Rusin def. NSU Hinton 6-2, 6-0
Women's
No. 1: NSU Aleksandra Evdokimova def. LWU Emma Nurgazieva 7-6-4, 4-6, 6-1
No. 2: LWU Maria Saez def. NSU Amal Gati 6-1, 6-2
No. 3: NSU Laura Ruiz def. LWU Karina Rizvanova 7-5, 6-3
No. 4: LWU Wiktoria Czerny def. LWU Breana Cook 6-1, 6-1
No. 5: LWU Nina Hederich def. NSU Zada McMorris 6-0, 6-1
No. 6: LWU Zoe Barton def. NSU Niya Grant 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles: 
Men's
No. 1: LWU Reis/Cagigas def. NSU Rebecchini/Lena 6-3
No. 2: LWU Weinberg/Puech def. NSU Kaczmarek/Lunin 6-2
No. 3: LWU Huang/Uribe def. NSU Brown/Abbas 6-2
Women's
No. 1: NSU Evdokimova/Gati def. LWU Nurgazieva/Rizvanova 6-4
No. 2: LWU Saez/Hederich def. NSU McMorris/Grant 6-0
No. 3: NSU Cook/Ruiz def. LWU Czerny/Barton 6-3
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The Lancer men opened the day with a bang, sweeping doubles play to earn the first point for Longwood. Each doubles pair only conceded three or less sets en route to three doubles wins, only the second time the men have done such on the year.
 
The men's success continued into singles play, as Longwood picked up a win in each of the first four matches. Guillermo Cagigas got things started at No. 1 with a 6-3, 6-4 win followed by a solid 6-2, 6-2 victory for freshman Timeo Puech, who was filling in at the No. 2 spot for Yoav Weinberg.
 
Freshman Alejandro Uribe claimed a point for the Lancers after Norfolk State's Adam Kaczmarek defaulted out of the match. Luis Reis followed suit with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4. Gary Huang battled to a third set and Vselovod Rusin picked up a win in his first ever appearance for the Lancers.
 
While there wasn't as much drama down the stretch for the men, the Lancer women played in a competitive contest the whole way through. Although the pair of Maria Saez and Nina Hederich earned a 6-0 doubles win, Norfolk State ultimately earned the dual's first point.
 
Longwood found themselves in danger of losing, as Emma Nurgazieva dropped a thrilling three-set opening match at No. 1 and Karina Rizvanova lost in a competitive 7-5, 6-3 match at No. 3.
 
However, the Lancers came up clutch when they needed to. The matches at No. 2, 4, 5, and 6 were all won convincingly to ensure Longwood's victory.
 
Maria Saez claimed a 6-1, 6-2 win, Wiktoria Czerny won 6-1, 6-1, Nina Hedrich only dropped one set, and Zoe Barton went a perfect 6-0, 6-0 to end the day for the Lancers.
 
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"The guys came out prepared and ready for today's match," said Longwood Director of Tennis Adam Jackson. "They competed well and continue to look solid day in and day out."
 
"The ladies had some tough breaks today but found a way to get the job done," said Jackson. "Winning close matches like this are how we can learn and grow."
 
 
UP NEXT:
 
Men's and women's tennis will host their second dual meet of the week on Thursday, March 9^th against Coppin State. The first match is set to begin at 2 p.m. in Farmville.
 
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