NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Nearly six months ago, Pierre Tafelski came to Longwood in hopes of changing the fortunes of the men's tennis program.
 
Just four matches into the spring season, things are already looking better for the Lancers. After suffering a 6-1 loss to CNU a season ago, Longwood showed just how much a difference a year, and a new coach, can make.
 
This year's improved Longwood men's tennis team earned the first spring win of the Tafelski era with a 4-3 match victory on the road against Christopher Newport Saturday afternoon at James T. & Sarah C. Eyre Courts.
 
On the final set of the day, Longwood (2-3) emerged victorious after sophomore Alfonso Castellano gutted his way to a three-set singles win. In spite of dropping the first set, Castellano fought back to earn his second win of the year on the heels of a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 decision over CNU's David Reed in No. 1 singles.
 
"Today was a great team effort," said the first-year coach Tafelski. "We got the doubles point and then CNU fought back to take the lead. But our whole team provided the support that gave an enormous amount of energy to Rosen and Alfonso, which helped us get those last two points."
 
Trailing Christopher Newport, 3-2, Longwood was on the verge of another defeat before junior Rosen Ilchev stepped up with a win to keep the Lancers alive heading into the final singles bout. At the No. 6 flight, Ilchev defeated CNU's Dillon Sykes 6-4, 6-0 to earn his first spring win.
 
Longwood also received huge doubles victories from Castellano and Ilchev in two separate pairings to give them the point win. Castellano teamed with freshman teammate Julian Farthing for an 8-6 victory over CNU's Boslet and Chiraag Shetty in No. 1 doubles. Ilchev joined forces with Sankar to defeat the CNU pairing of Ruzicka and Sam Thompson 8-4.
 
A  product of London, England, Farthing picked up his first career spring singles win to put the Lancers ahead 2-0 to start the match. In a battle of freshmen, Farthing beat CNU's freshman Nick Ruzicka 6-1, 6-1.

The Captains responded with back-to-back singles wins from Steven Boslet and Justin Cerny to break even with the Lancers. Boslet defeated Longwood senior Bharani Sankar 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 3 position, while Cerny beat Longwood junior Florian Uffer 6-1, 6-3 in No. 2 singles.
 
In the end, however, Longwood's improvements made on the courts, added with great team support, led the Lancers to their second dual victory albeit by one point earned on the day's final set.
 
"The work is starting to pay off, and we are getting a lot of confidence moving forward," Tafelski said.
 
The Lancers will now prepare for their home opener next weekend, as they play host to West Virginia Wesleyan College on Feb. 27. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m.
 
#GoWood
 
Match Results
Longwood 4, Christopher Newport 3

Singles
1. Alfonso Castellano (LWU) def. David Reed (CNU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
2. Justin Cerny (CNU) def. Florian Uffer (LWU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Steven Boslet (CNU) def. Bharani  Sankar (LWU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Julian Farthing (LWU) def. Nick Ruzicka (CNU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Arttu Fiva (CNU) def. Lachlan Manser (LWU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Rosen Ilchev (LWU) def. Dillon Sykes (CNU) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. Castellano/Farthing (LWU) def. Boslet/Shetty (CNU) 8-6
2. Cerny/Reed (CNU) def. Uffer/Manser (LWU) 8-6
3. Sanker/Ilchev (LWU) def. Ruzicka/Thompson (CNU) 8-6
 
Match Notes:
Order of Finish
Doubles: 3,2,1
Singles: 4,3,2,5,6,1