NORFOLK, Va. — Graduate student Mauricio Gonzalez Paiva and sophomore Petar Belosevic each advanced through singles qualifying to lead the Longwood men's tennis team in the 2024 ITA Atlantic Regional at Old Dominion's Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on Thursday.

Both players are set to compete in the 64-competitor main singles draw of the tournament which begins Friday. The two finalists there earn berths to the NCAA Individual Championships, which will be held in the fall season for the first time on Nov.19-24 in Waco, Texas. Junior Timéo Puech received an automatic qualification into the main draw, joining Gonzalez Paiva and Belosevic.

Gonzalez Paiva outlasted his first-round opponent, Shari Saeed from George Mason, in three sets. The Corrientes, Argentina native won the first, 7-6 (4), dropped the second, 6-7 (4), but prevailed in the third, 6-4, to advance. Gonzalez Paiva then topped Jason Kim of Navy, 6-3, 6-2 to punch his ticket to the main draw.

Belosevic had defeated Sam Rathmanner of Richmond and Zavan Fahim of George Mason by identical 6-1, 6-4 scores to advance.

Marko Mrdak dropped his first-round qualifying match, 6-3, 6-4, to Norfolk State's Frederick McRae and will play in the consolation draw Friday at noon.

Gonzalez Paiva takes on Oliver Hague of William & Mary at 8:30 a.m., Belosevic faces Adhvyte Sharma from Georgetown at 9:45 a.m., and Puech plays Aryan Saleh of Old Dominion at 11:15 a.m.

All four players will also take part in the single-elimination doubles draw at 2 p.m., on Friday. Belosevic and Gonzalez Paiva meet Mikeal Carpenter and Niles Rachal of Morgan State while Puech and Mrdak play Virginia's Keegan Rice and Stiles Brockett.