Zyhmantovich gets win in Norfolk State loss
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sophomore Dzmitry Zyhmantovich posted the Spartans’ only win in their 6-1 loss to Binghamton on Saturday afternoon at Centre Court Racquet Club.
Zyhmantovich competed at the No. 1 singles spot and claimed a 7-6(7), 7-6(3) win against Alexander Maisin.
NSU (1-3) kept it close in doubles play, but could not come out with a win. Sophomore Robin Riethmueller and junior Igor Braga fell to Maisin Aswin Nambi, 8-6. Zyhmantovich and senior Peter Ramstromer-Pello suffered an 8-7(5) loss to Ismael Dinia and Eliott Hureau. In the No. 3 spot, Binghamton’s Thomas Caputo and Vihar Shah posted an 8-6 win over sophomore Samuel Lemberger and junior Daniel Grauel.
Riethmueller fell to Maisin, 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles position. Ramstromer-Pello competed at the No. 3 spot, where he lost to Hureau, 6-1, 6-3. Up next was Braga. He fell to Sid Hazarika, 6-2, 6-3. Lemberger played at the No. 5 slot and lost to Caputo, 7-6(5), 7-6(0). Closing out singles play was Grauel. He suffered a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Shah.
NSU takes on Christopher Newport on Feb. 22 in Newport News, Va. Play will begin at 12 p.m. at the CNU Courts.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
NCCU Rallies For Historic Win Over Longwood
FARMVILLE, Va. – The North Carolina Central University men’s tennis team made history on Sunday, edging Longwood University, 4-3, for the Eagles’ first win in the series with the Lancers.
After NCCU opened the match with an 8-4 win by junior Daniil Gerasimov and senior Stephan Charles-Donatien in the No. 1 doubles match, Longwood earned victories in the other two doubles matches to capture the doubles point.
The Eagles quickly evened the match with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory by Charles-Donatien at No. 2 singles
NCCU junior Tamina Kienka dropped a three-set contest (6-3, 3-6, 6-2) at No. 3 singles as Longwood regained the advantage 2-1 in the match.
The Eagles answered the challenge again. This time NCCU freshman William East rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the third set to win his No. 4 singles match 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, evening the match score at 2-2.
NCCU sophomore Thomas Persico battled in a hard-fought opening set at No. 6 singles to capture a straight set 7-5, 6-2 win, giving the Eagles a 3-2 match lead.
With the Eagles needing to win just one of the two matches remaining on the courts, Gerasimov overcame a 4-1 gap in the third set for a come-from-behind, match-clinching victory at No. 1 singles (6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (5)).
NCCU junior Fabrice George fell in a tightly-contested match at No. 5 singles (6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5), but the historic match win over Longwood was already chalked up.
NCCU has a week to enjoy its notable victory before returning to the courts to face Norfolk State University on Feb. 23 in Norfolk, Va.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Morgan State falls to UMBC
BALTIMORE, Md. – The Morgan State men's tennis team was held scoreless against the UMBC Retrievers, 6-0, at 40 West Racquet Club. The Bears record dropped to 0-4.
The two teams did not compete in doubles competition.
Alex Drean defeated freshman Ty Abraham, 6-2, 6-1 and Justin Carter cruised past Evan Ward, 6-1, 6-1. Daniel Gray was ahead, 6-4, 4-1, at the No. 4 slot, when freshman Joshua Abraham was forced to retire, giving the Retrievers a 3-0 lead.
Kamal Patel clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over senior Jannick Tash at the No. 5 position.
Melker Svard was matched up against junior Duk Young-Park at the No. 2 slot and held on to a win 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. Biyik Akinshemoyin completed the sweep with a 6-3, 7-6 triumph over senior Dmitriy Borodkin in the No. 6 position.
MSU returns to action on Friday, Feb. 21, when they travel to Lynchburg (Va.) to face the Virginia Tech Hokies.