Longwood University's men's tennis team won the Independent Tournament in Farmville on Saturday. The team defeated several opponents during the three-day event, including Winston-Salem State, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), North Carolina Central and Seattle. The tournament marked the end of competitive play for the Lancers in 2009-10. It was a great finish to an up and down season that saw men's tennis end up with a 12-9 record. Prior to competing in the Independent Tournament, the Lancers defeated Howard University and lost to George Washington.
The Lancers defeated Seattle University 7-0 to win the overall tournament. Sophomore Nobu Tanaka received tournament MVP honors while senior Billy Heird gained a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Longwood was stellar in singles play. The team finished with a perfect record, with Tanaka picking up the win at #1 (6-1, 3-0, retired), freshman Marc Ferrigno winning at #2 (6-0, 6-4), Heird winning at #3 (6-4, 6-2), senior Andres Lazarte victorious at #4 (6-2, 6-1), senior David Cardoso winning at #5 (6-1, 6-1) and freshman Adham Halabi victorious at #6 (6-1, 2-6, 13-11).
In doubles action, Heird and Halabi won at #2 (8-4) and Cardoso and Tanaka came up with the victory at the #3 spot (8-5). Ferrigno and junior Milo Barajas-Alexander lost at #1 (6-8).
Heird was joined on the All-Tournament team by NJIT's Stephen Erickson, North Carolina Central's Jose Fabara, Seattle's Yusuke Kanehira and Winston-Salem State's Brian Coxton.
Heird concluded his senior season with a 13-7 record in dual matches, including 10-4 at #3. Cardoso finished his final season with a 10-5 record in dual matches and an 8-2 record at #5. Lazarte looked good at the end of the year, winning both of his matches in the Independent Tournament on Saturday.
The women's tennis team also competed in and won their Independent Tournament in Farmville over the weekend. Seattle, North Carolina Central and Winston-Salem State all fell against the women's tennis squad en route to the tournament triumph. Like the men's team, the tournament concluded the season for the women, finishing with a record of 13-8.
The women's team beat North Carolina Central 4-0 and Winston-Salem State 6-0 last Sunday to seal the victory in the tournament. Senior Mason Davis received the award for Independent Tournament MVP. Also among the accolades for the Lancers were senior Laura Simon and freshman Marta Pinyol earning spots on the All-Tournament team. Longwood finished the season on a very strong note, winning the final three matches of the season.
In singles competition against N.C. Central, Simon won at #2 (6-1, 6-4), Davis picked up the victory at #4 (6-0, 6-0) and freshman Allison Shulman was victorious at the #5 spot (6-2, 6-1). Junior Zsofia Jakab did not finish play at #1 (5-7, 1-2). Pinyol was leading at #3 (6-3, 3-0) and freshman Hannah Hill was ahead of her opponent at #6 (6-0, 1-0).
In doubles action on Sunday, Jakab and Pinyol got the win at #1 (8-5), Davis and Simon won at #2 (8-4) and Hill and Shulman were victorious at the #3 spot (8-1).
In singles play against Winston-Salem State, Jakab won at #1 (6-2, 6-1), Simon got the victory at #2 (6-0, 6-0), Pinyol won at #3 (6-0, 6-3), Davis was victorious at #4 (6-0, 6-0) and junior Nasim Moadab won at the #6 spot (6-3, 7-5).
On the doubles side against Winston-Salem, Pinyol and Jakab defeated their opponents at #1 (8-4), Davis and Shulman were victorious at #2 (8-0) and Simon and Moadab got the win at #3 (8-3).
Pinyol and Simon were joined on the All-Tournament team by several other competitors, including Winston-Salem State's Chelsea Chatman, N.C. Central's Olesya Palko and Seattle's Katrina Schwab.
Davis finished her senior campaign at Longwood with a 16-3 singles record in dual matches, including her last nine matches played. Simon rounded out her season with an 8-11 mark with wins in her last three matches.
