LYNCHBURG, Va. – George Mason University men's tennis student-athletes Monil Lotlikar and Niza Simunyola became the first Patriots to reach the Sweet 16 of the ITA Regional doubles draw in nearly a decade while pacing the Green & Gold this week in Lynchburg.
 
The dynamic Mason duo knocked off the William & Mary team of Raptis/Joseph in thrilling, tie-breaking fashion during the Gold Round of 32. They dominated the tiebreak, 7-2, to advance to the Round of 16. In that match, the Patriots fell to the sixth-seeded Virginia Tech duo of Harper/St-Hilaire.
 
Elsewhere in doubles, Mason's strong pairing of Hayden Postin and Zavan Fahim entered the bronze draw as the No. 4 overall seed. They went a perfect 3-0 in the draw, including wins over teams from Howard, Virginia Tech and Mt. St. Mary's, to advance to the silver draw. The win over the Hokies' tandem of Fahim/Cueto was in 8-5 fashion. The Patriot duo finished their doubles run 3-1 after falling in their opening silver draw match.
 
In the bronze draw of singles, senior Momin Khan won a pair of matches, including victories over opponents from Loyola (Md.) and Delaware.
 
Junior Jacco Arends also picked up two bronze singles victories, including a triumph over seventh-seeded Aathreya Mahesh of James Madison, 6-2, 6-3.
 
In addition to his doubles prowess, Simunyola also picked up a bronze draw singles win, taking down Marcel Dawson, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
 
ITA RESULTS
Doubles
Bronze
#4 Postin/Fahim (GMU) def. Dunac/Lash (HOW), 8-5
#4 Postin/Fahim (GMU) def. Fahim/Cueto (VT), 8-5
#4 Postin/Fahim (GMU) def. Thompson/Papayoanou (MSM), 8-5
 
#5 Kresina/Er (TU) def. Khan/Ha (GMU), 8-7 (7-1)
 
Bain/Stavrakas (BUCK) def. Arends/Pedraza (GMU), 8-6
 
Silver
#2 Courteau/Severin (RAD) def. Postin/Fahim (GMU), 8-1
 
Gold
Simunyola/Lotlikar (GMU) def. Raptis/Joseph (W&M), 8-7 (7-2)
Harper/St Hilaire (VT) def. Simunyola/Lotlikar (GMU), 8-2
 
Bronze Consolation
Yaffa/Regalia (UVA) def. El khalifi/Arends (GMU), 8-3
 
Silver Consolation
Arends/Pedraza (GMU) def. Karnibad/Zachiotis (MSM), 8-7 (7-2)
 
Robinson/Samardicz (LIB) def. Postin/Fahim, 8-7, (7-4)
 
Singles
Bronze
Major Jr. (HOW) def. Ha (GMU), 6-2, 6-2
 
McDonald (BUCK) def. Jentoft (GMU), 6-3, 6-3
 
Khan (GMU) def. Cardano (LOY), 6-2, 7-5
Khan (GMU) def. #4 Lock (DEL), 6-4, 6-1
Bain (BUCK) def. Khan (GMU), 6-2, 6-3
 
Vergine (RAD) def. Fahim (GMU), 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
 
Arends (GMU) def. #7 Mahesh (JMU), 6-2, 6-3
Arends (GMU) def. Karnibad (MSM), 6-3, 6-3
#14 Regalia (UVA) def. Arends (GMU), 7-5. 6-4
 
Vogelaar (DUQ) def. #15 Postin (GMU), 6-0, 6-1
 
#13 Janes (PSU) def. Pedraza (GMU), 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
 
#2 Simunyola (GMU) def. Dawson (HOW), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
Gouws (LIB) def. #2 Simunyola (GMU), 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
 
Silver
Benn (W&M) def. Lotlikar (GMU), 6-4, 7-5
 
Bronze Consolation
Fourticq (NOVA) def. Ha (GMU), 6-4, 6-0
 
Jentoft (GMU) def. Dunac (HOW), 6-4, 6-1
 
Fahim (GMU) def. Cohen (DUQ), 4-6, 6-3, 10-3
 
#15 Postin (GMU) def. Cooper (NOVA), 4-6, 6-4, 10-6
 
Pedraza (GMU) def. Roddy (RICH), 5-7, 6-2, 10-7
 
Silver Consolation
Pomeranets (VT) def. Lotlikar (GMU), 7-5, 7-5