Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech men’s tennis opened its spring season with a pair of 6-1 wins over Longwood and Richmond on Friday inside the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.
Longwood (0-1, 0-0 Big South)
The Hokies’ season opener started with a strong showing in doubles, as they claimed Court No. 2 and No. 3. Freshman Eyal Shumilov teamed up with sophomore Diego Cueto for a resounding 6-1 win, while first-year Hokie Victor Kimpel teamed up with veteran Scott Sculley for a 6-2 triumph.
In singles, Cueto continued to roll and nearly blanked his opponent on Court No. 5, as he cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Making his debut with Virginia Tech after a successful stint at JMU, Julian Lozano claimed a 6-0, 6-2 win on Court No. 2. Shumilov clinched the Hokies’ third consecutive season-opening win with his 6-3, 6-1 result on Court No. 4.
Kimpel added to Tech’s advantage with a 6-3, 6-1 win on Court No. 3, followed by fellow freshman Damian Sancilio picking up a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in his debut, as well.
Richmond (0-1, 0-0 A10)
Freshmen Kimpel and Shumilov paced the field in Virginia Tech’s second set of doubles for the day, picking up a 6-0 win on Court No. 3. On Court No. 1, Ilyas Fahim and Frank Thompson clinched the point with a 6-3 victory.
Sliding to Court No. 3 for the nightcap, Lozano added another win to his Tech tally with a 6-1, 6-4 result. Shumilov moved the Hokies advantage to three on Court No. 4 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Cueto pulled out the clinch on Court No. 6 with a 6-3, 6-4 win, which was followed by Kimpel’s 6-4, 6-4 triumph on Court No. 5. Fahim closed the day with a gutsy 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (8) display on Court No. 1.
Virginia Tech returns to action on Sunday, as it faces VCU in Richmond at 3 p.m.