FARMVILLE, Va. – It has been a long time since North Carolina A&T has witnessed this much success in men's tennis. The good times continued on Saturday as the Aggies defeated the Longwood Lancers 5-2 at New Lancer Courts to clinch a spot in the Big South Conference Men's Tennis Championship Tournament, April 14-16.
The Aggies improved to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play. A&T started its exciting day by winning the doubles point. The A&T combination of junior
Esteban Lopez and senior
Vasil Ivanov defeated Guillermo Cagigas and Ernest Rocabert 6-4. Lopez and Ivanov improved to 9-8 overall and 2-4 in Big South competition.
The freshmen duo of Elder Blanco and
Jorge Perez then teamed to defeat Rosen Naydenov and Luis Reis 6-1. Banco and Perez are 8-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play. A&T's loss in doubles came at No.3 as freshmen
Ian Pedersen and
Ethan Baly lost to Yoav Weinberg and Nikhil Kulkarni 6-1.
In singles competition, Lopez continued his record-breaking season. He defeated Naydenov 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. He is 13-3 on the season and 4-2 in conference play. Despite having the most single-season wins of any A&T men's tennis player since the sport was reinstated, he does not have the longest current winning streak.
Ivanov and Blanco share that distinction. Ivanov picked up another career victory, by defeating Jourdan Kast, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2. It was Ivanov's sixth straight win as he improved to 12-5 on the season, and secured his 32
nd career win.
Blanco had a little tougher time at No. 3 singles, but he still managed to win his sixth straight as he defeated Rocabert 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. Blanco is 11-5 overall and 4-2 in league play.
Perez clinched the match, paving the way for the Aggies to reach the conference tournament as he won 6-1, 7-5 over Weinberg. Perez is 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the Big South. The Aggies did have two losses.
Baly lost at No. 4 singles to Cagigas, 6-4, 6-1, and Pedersen lost at No. 6 to Reis, 7-6, 6-1.
The Aggies will face South Carolina State at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 30 at the Dudley High School Tennis Courts. .
