JMU Drops Heartbreaker to Longwood

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Longwood rallied in singles play to defeat James Madison, 4-3, in men's tennis action on Sunday at the East Campus Tennis Courts.

The Lancers (2-3) used singles wins on courts one, two, five and six to earn their first victory against JMU since 2018. For the Dukes (4-3), the setback ended a four-match win streak.

Leading the way for JMU were Aurelien Schmitt and Francisco Sinopoli, who each went 2-0 on the afternoon.

JMU opened play by claiming the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. The tandem of Esteve Agusti and Sinopoli won crucial deuce points en route to a 6-1 victory against Daniel Borisov and Timeo Puech. LU's top duo had previously been ranked #61 in the Feb. 4 doubles rankings.

With JMU ahead on the final two courts, the team of Harrison Lee and Schmitt won consecutive games to pull away for a 6-3 doubles-clinching victory versus Daniel Lopez and Alejandro Uribe. JMU also led 4-3 on court two when doubles was clinched.

The first half of singles play were highly competitive, with Longwood taking two of the three top courts to tie the match at 2-2. Puech earned a 7-5, 6-4 victory against Agusti, before Schmitt controlled the second-set tiebreak to down Rufus Plane by scores of 6-4, 7-6 (4). The Lancers squared the match again moments later when Borisov fended off Ryan Morgan, at 6-3, 7-5.

JMU regained the lead, at 3-2, as Sinopoli overcame a late surge from Lopez in a close 6-4, 7-5 triumph on court four. Longwood tied it back at 3-3, as Zach Fleishman retired in the third set while down to Petter Lindquist. Lindquist won the match by scores of 4-6, 6-2, 2-0 retire.

In the final match on court six, Alejandro Uribe evaded a tiebreak in the second set by breaking Lee's serve, clinching the match at 6-3, 7-5.

JMU opens a seven-match road trip next weekend, as it heads to Greensboro, N.C., to face UNCG on Friday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

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