Rookie Langmo defeats No. 4 Shane from UVA
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miamifreshman Christian Langmo defeated No. 4 Ryan Shane in the Canes’ 5-2 loss to No. 4 Virginia in their regular season finale Sunday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
“I thought we had opportunities in doubles and we got a little bit tight, but we picked it up in the singles,” said head coach Mario Rincon. “Christian [Langmo] had a great win at number two, a very significant win for him.”
Langmo, a native of Boca Raton, Fla., fell in his first set but stormed back in the next two sets to defeat No. 4 Ryan Shane, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, highlighting the day for the Canes.
“It feels really good to play my best tennis at the end of the season,” said Langmo. “Virginia is one of the deepest teams in the country and it feels really good.”
It was also Senior Day at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center where seniors Henrique Tsukamoto and Wilfredo Gonzalez played their last home match in Coral Gables.
“We are going to miss them so much they have been such a good influence to everyone on the team for four years,” said head coach Rincon. “They have competed with a lot of class and play for the U with so much pride, hopefully as alumni members they will be able to come back and share their time with us.”
Ending on a high note, senior Gonzalez came out strong and dominated his opponent No. 77 Collin Altamirano, 6-2, 6-2.
“On my senior day I wanted to play smarter and more focused than in any other match,” said Gonzalez. “I just wanted to get out of here with good momentum and good feelings and I wanted people to see how good I can be.”
Senior Tsukamoto could not develop a consistent rhythm in a tough match against No. 16 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski and fell, 6-2, 6-2, which did not cloud Tsukamoto’s special day as a senior member of the team.
“It was four years of a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Tsukamoto. “Only if you’re a student-athlete you know how hard it is to travel and to study, but it is really rewarding and has made me a better person and I am really grateful for this opportunity.”
In other singles action, freshman Niclas Genovese was overpowered against J.C. Aragone falling, 6-1, 6-1. Lone sophomore Bernard Tefel won his first set but could not close out and fell against Alexander Ritschard, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
No. 73 Piotr Lomacki battled but fell in a tough match against No. 20 Mitchell Frank, 6-4, 6-2, which secured the victory for the Cavaliers.
In doubles action, senior Tsukamoto and freshman Lomacki teamed up but could not contain No. 5 Ryan Shane and Luca Corinteli falling, 8-4. The freshman duo of Nile Clark and Andrew Harrington fell in a close match to Mitchell Frank and Collin Altamirano, 8-6, which secured the doubles point for the Cavaliers.
Senior Gonzalez and sophomore Tefel were down 7-5 to Thai-Son Kwiatkowski and Mac Stysliner when the match was called.
“I know these guys are really good players and it takes a lot of belief to win that final point, that’s what has been difficult for us,” said head coach Rincon. “We go into the conference tournament thinking that we can play some great tennis next week and we are looking forward to it.”
The Canes will now travel to North Carolina as the No. 12-seed in the 2015 ACC Tournament and will face No. 5-seeded Duke at 12 p.m. in Cary, N.C. at the Cary Tennis Park.
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#4 Virginia 5, Miami 2
Singles Competition
1. #20 Mitchell Frank (UVA) def. #73 Piotr Lomacki, 6-4, 6-2
2. Christian Langmo (UM) def. #4 Ryan Shane, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Wilfredo Gonzalez (UM) def. #77 Collin Altamirano (UVA), 6-2, 6-2
4. #16 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (UVA) def. Henrique Tsukamoto (UM), 6-2, 6-2
5. Alexander Ritschard (UVA) def. Bernard Tefel (UM), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. J.C. Aragone (UVA) def. Niclas Genovese (UM), 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. #5 Shane/Corintelli (UVA) def. Tsukamoto/Lomacki (UM), 8-4
2. Kwiatkowski/Stysliner (UVA) vs. Gonzalez/Tefel (UM), 7-5, unfinished
3. Frank/Altamirano (UVA) def. Clark/Harrington (UM), 8-6
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,4,3,1,2,5)
