DURHAM, N.C. – Days after battling for their first Big South win in program history, the Longwood men's tennis team defeated North Carolina Central 6-1 Sunday afternoon behind sweeps at courts four, five and six.

"We played a serious and professional match," said second-year head coach Pierre Tafelski, who has the Lancers off to their best start in the Division I era. "NCCU fought well but we were able to increase our level at key times."

In doubles play, the tandem of Julian Farthing and Arthur Bardellotto picked up a 6-3 win at court No. 2, and Noah Petralia and Jorge Gomis sealed the doubles point with a 6-4 win at the third seed.

With a 2-0 lead after a Farthing sweep, Bardellotto stormed back for a three-set win at court No. 3. After dropping the first set 6-2 and falling behind in the second set 4-1, Bardellotto reeled off five straight games to force a decisive third set, ultimately taking it by  a 7-5 score.

"Arthur was down a set and 4-1 [in the second set], but fought back and pulled off a good win," Tafelski said.

Amadeo Blasco added to his record-setting start, pushing his record to 7-0 on the season after his second three-set win in as many matches. Blasco's 7-0 start to his career is the best mark by a Lancer since Nobu Tanaka went 16-3 his freshman campaign in the 2008-09 season.

The Lancers also picked up sweeps at courts five and six from Noah Petralia and Jorge Gomis. Petralia swept the Eagles' Brooks Campbell 7-5, 6-1, and Gomis swept through Pablo Juez Torres 6-3, 6-2.

Sunday's win was the second-consecutive season the Lancers have defeated the Eagles by a 6-1 score.

"This is a working progress, but we are headed toward the right direction," Tafelski said.

Longwood hits the court Friday against Campbell in their home opener at the Hampden-Sydney Courts. Match time is set for 2 p.m. after the women's team takes on the Camels earlier that day.

Longwood 6, North Carolina Central 1
March 05, 2017 at Durham, N.C.
 
Singles competition
1. BLASCO, Amadeo (LWUM) def. CUCALON, Gabriel (NCCU) 7-6, 6-7, 6-1
2. KONTOPOULOS, Th. (NCCU) def. UFFER, Florian (LWUM) 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
3. BARDELLOTO, Arthur (LWUM) def. CALLEGARI, Davide (NCCU) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. FARTHING, Julian (LWUM) def. BROMLEY, Sebastian (NCCU) 6-2, 6-3
5. PETRALIA, Noah (LWUM) def. CAMPBELL, Brooks (NCCU) 7-5, 6-1
6. GOMIS, Jorge (LWUM) def. JUEZ TORRES, Pablo (NCCU) 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. CUCALON, Gabriel/KONOVALOV, Maksym (NCCU) def. BLASCO, Amadeo/UFFER, Florian (LWUM) 6-4
2. FARTHING, Julian/BARDELLOTO, Arthur (LWUM) def. KONTOPOULOS, Th./CALLEGARI, Davide (NCCU) 6-3
3. PETRALIA, Noah/GOMIS, Jorge (LWUM) def. BROMLEY, Sebastian/CAMPBELL, Brooks (NCCU) 6-4
 
Match Notes
Longwood 6-1
North Carolina Central 2-8
 
Order of Finish
Doubles: 2, 3, 1
Singles: 4, 3, 2, 1, 5, 6
 
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