Spiders Split Saturday Doubleheader in Blacksburg

Saturday, February 10

Blacksburg, VA

5PM

University of Richmond

Virginia Tech

02/10/2018 | Men's Tennis

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Richmond men's tennis team split a pair of matches on Saturday in its lone doubleheader of the season.

The Spiders started the day with a 7-0 win – their third straight – over Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure in their first sweep of the season.

"I was really impressed with how we competed throughout the whole match," head coach Houston Barrick said. "I didn't think we played overly well, but we showed a lot of toughness when we needed to."

Klein Evans and John Karlawish made quick work of the Bonnies on court 3 in doubles action, posting a 6-1 win, before Caleb Troy and James Aronson clinched the 1-0 lead with a 6-4 win on court 1.

Singles play followed suit, as four of six Spiders took down their opponents in two sets.

Troy logged a 6-1, 6-2 win over Victor Blanco at No. 1, before Karlawish downed Hector Martinez at No. 2, 6-2, 6-1. Aronson posted a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ante Zovko on court 4, and Joe Nardini moved to 3-0 in singles action this season on court 6, defeating Guillermo Garcia 6-4, 6-2.

"Caleb did a fantastic job of setting the tone of the entire match with his singles win." Barrick said. "When your No. 1 player is able to win quickly, it helps build the confidence of the entire team."

Evans and Matt Fernandez both rallied to three-set wins after dropping the first sets. Evans rebounded for a 4-6, 6-3, (13-11) tiebreak win over Lukas Linden Malmberg on court 5, while Fernandez also won in a tiebreak, 4-6, 6-4, (11-9) over Indra Patwardhan on court 3.

The Spiders' second match of the day was a tougher test, as host Virginia Tech jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead with wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles.

The Hokies then extended their lead to 3-0 with wins on courts 1 and 4, before George Lovitt put the Spiders on the board with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Chase Bernstine at No. 6. Despite near comebacks from Fernandez, Aronson and Nardini, Virginia Tech was able to win on the remaining courts for a 6-1 win.

"We didn't come out ready to compete in doubles, but we came out fired up in singles," Barrick said after the second match. "Virginia Tech is a very good team, and we made that a heck of a college tennis match. I think our guys are starting to see that we can play with any team in the country."

The Spiders return to action on Friday, February 16, when they host James Madison at the Salisbury Tennis Club. Match time is set for 6 p.m.

Richmond 7, St. Bonaventure 0
SINGLES
1. Caleb Troy (UR) def. Victor Blanco (SBU) – 6-1, 6-2
2. John Karlawish (UR) def. Hector Martinez (SBU) – 6-2, 6-1
3. Matt Fernandez (UR) def. Indra Patwardhan (SBU) – 4-6, 6-4, (11-9)
4. James Aronson (UR) def. Ante Zovko (SBU) – 6-3, 6-3
5. Klein Evans (UR) def. Lukas Linden Malmberg (SBU) – 4-6, 6-3, (13-11)
6. Joe Nardini (UR) def. Guillermo Garcia (SBU) – 6-4, 6-2

DOUBLES
1. Caleb Troy/James Aronson (UR) def. Victor Blanco/Lukas Linden Malmberg (SBU) – 6-4
2. Hector Martinez/Ante Zovko (SBU) def. Brice Polender/George Lovitt (UR) – 6-4
3. Klein Evans/John Karlawish (UR) def. Indra Patwardhan/Darrel Harxhi (SBU) – 6-1

Virginia Tech 6, Richmond 1
SINGLES
1. #23 Mitch Harper (VT) def. Caleb Troy (UR) – 6-3, 6-3
2. #123 Jason Kros (VT) def. Matt Fernandez (UR) – 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
3. Alex Ribiero (VT) def. James Aronson (UR) – 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4
4. Carlo Donato (VT) def. Klein Evans (UR) – 6-2, 6-4
5. Henrik Korsgaard (VT) def. Joe Nardini (UR) – 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
6. George Lovitt (UR) def. Chase Bernstine (VT) – 7-5, 6-3

DOUBLES
1. Carlo Donato/Mitch Harper (VT) def. Caleb Troy/James Aronson (UR) – 6-2
2. Henrik Korsgaard/Alex Ribiero (VT) vs. Matt Fernanez/Brice Polender (UR) – 5-2 (DNF)
3. Jason Kros/Freddy Mesmer (VT) def. Klein Evans/John Karlawish (UR) – 6-2