Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech men’s tennis team opened spring dual play with a pair of wins, defeating Liberty 6-1 to start the day followed by a 7-0 sweep of NC A&T in the evening match at Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.
Tech (2-0) gave up the doubles point to the Flames (0-1), but came back strong in singles, winning all six matches. The Hokies’ 97th-ranked Alexandre Ribeiro got Tech on the board as he defeated Chase Burton 6-2, 6-0 on court three.
Carlo Donato gave Tech a 2-1 lead as he defeated Vince Salas 6-3, 6-2 on four while No. 80 Jason Kros downed Eddie Gutierrez 6-4, 6-2 at the two.
George Cartledge clinched the team win for Tech at six. After winning the opening set 6-1 over Diego Castano, Cartledge trailed 1-4 in the second before rallying to claim five straight points to win the set 6-4. Mitch Harper, ranked 68th, gave Tech a 5-1 lead, defeating Sam Matheson 6-3, 6-4 at one.
Chase Bernstine rounded out the scoring for the Hokies after rallying from down 2-5 in the opening set against Alex Poynter to win it 7-5. The second set was also close, going into a tiebreak that Bernstine secured 7-6(8).
The Hokies rolled in the second match of the day, getting out to the early lead after winning the doubles point with Bernstine and Harper winning at two while Abraham Asaba and Ryan Kros won at three.
Tech kept it going with Ryan Kros giving the Hokies a 2-0 lead, defeating Brett Caban 6-0, 6-1 at six. Bernstine claimed his second win of the day, knocking off John Wilson IV 6-0, 6-3 on court three. Donato secured the team win for Tech as he downed Jorge Bartra 6-2, 6-1 at two.
Cartledge picked up win number two of the spring duals, defeating Hayden Faulkenbury 6-3, 6-0 on court four followed by Ribeiro’s 6-4, 6-2 decision against Nicolas Arduh at one. Abraham Asaba picked up the final point for the Hokies as he defeated Jorge Goenaga 6-3, 6-2 on five.
The Hokies will be back on the court next weekend in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tech will face the Tide on Friday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. before a neutral site Saturday match versus Penn State at 1 p.m.
Virginia Tech 6, Liberty 1
Singles
1. #68 Mitch Harper (VT) def. Sam Matheson (LU) 6-3, 6-4
2. #80 Jason Kros (VT) def. Eddie Gutierrez (LU) 6-4, 6-2
3. #97 Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. Chase Burton (LU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Carlo Donato (VT) def. Vince Salas (LU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Chase Bernstine (VT) def. Alex Poynter (LU) 7-5, 7-6(8)
6. George Cartledge (VT) def. Diego Castano (LU) 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: 3,4,2,6,1,5
Doubles
1. Harper/Ribeiro (VT) def. Castano/Poynter (LU) 6-1
2. Gutierrez/Salas (LU) def. J. Kros/Ryan Kros (VT) 6-3
3. Burton/Matheson (LU) def. Donato/Henrik Korsgaard (VT) 6-2
Order of finish: 1,2,3
Virginia Tech 7, NC A&T 0
Singles
1. #97 Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. Nicolas Arduh (A&T) 6-4, 6-2
2. Carlo Donato (VT) def. Jorge Bartra (A&T) 6-2, 6-1
3. Chase Bernstine (VT) def. John Wilson IV (A&T) 6-0, 6-3
4. George Cartledge (VT) def. Hayden Faulkenbury (A&T) 6-3, 6-0
5. Abraham Asaba (VT) def. Jorge Goenaga (A&T) 6-3, 6-2
6. Ryan Kros (VT) def. Brett Caban (A&T) 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 6,3,2,4,1,5
Doubles
1. Jason Kros/Ribeiro (VT) vs. Arduh/Faulkenbury (A&T) 5-2 dnf
2. Bernstine/Mitch Harper (VT) def. Bartra/Goenaga (A&T) 6-1
3. Asaba/R. Kros (VT) def. Laurence/Wilson (A&T) 6-3
Order of finish: 2,3