Liberty University
James Madison
Flames Fall Short Against James Madison on Senior Day, 5-2
4/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Playing in their final home match of the 2013 regular season, the Liberty Flames came up short against the visiting James Madison Dukes, 5-2, on Wednesday afternoon at the Hershey Tennis Courts. The contest served as the final home match in the highly-decorated career of Liberty senior Siim Tuus.
In defeat, Liberty drops to 10-10 (3-5 Big South) overall on the season, while James Madison improves to 7-10 (2-3 CAA) on the year.
Liberty's Dillon Segur and Jorge Azuero breezed through their No. 2 doubles match against Hugo Ramadier and Greg Vladimirsky, 8-2, to open the afternoon. The Dukes rallied from a match down, beginning with an 8-4 victory from Bastian Russo and Florent Sentenac in the No. 3 position against the Flames' Tuus and Guillem Secanell.
In the No. 1 spot, Liberty's Shea Thomas and Egon Samaai raced out to a 6-3 advantage against Ryan Pool and Robert Stirling, but were unable to hold on as the James Madison tandem came from behind to win, 9-7, and secure the doubles point.
Samaai knotted the contest at one for the Flames with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 ousting of Maxi Branth in the No. 6 singles position. The win gives the freshman 10 victories on the season, making him the fourth Liberty player with double-digit singles victories on the season.
The Dukes collected a win in the No. 3 spot as Vladimirsky downed Segur 6-2, 6-4. Azuero responded for the Flames with a straight-set defeat of Sterling, 6-1, 6-4, improving his singles record on the year to 13-4. James Madison extended its lead to 3-2, after Sentenac edged Secanell, 7-5, 6-4, in the No. 5 slot.
In the No. 1 position, Thomas jumped out to a one-set advantage over Pool with a 6-3 win. The Dukes' senior rallied to win the final two sets, 6-3, 6-2, to clinch the contest for the visitors.
Looking for a win in the final home match of his career, Tuus played a thrilling three-set contest against Ramadier in the No. 2 spot. After dropping the first set, the Liberty senior bounced back to win the second, 6-3. In the third frame, Tuus went ahead 5-4, but was unable to close the match as Ramadier came back to win 7-5.
The Flames conclude the regular season on Friday with a noon match at North Carolina Central.
James Madison 5, Liberty 2
DOUBLES
1. Pool/Stirling (JMU) def. Thomas/Samaai (LU), 9-7
2. Segur/Azuero (LU) def. Ramadier/Vladimirsky (JMU), 8-2
3. Russo/Sentenac (JMU) def. Tuus/Secanell (LU), 8-5
SINGLES
1. Pool (JMU) def. Thomas (LU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Ramadier (JMU) def. Tuus (LU), 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
3. Vladimirsky (JMU) def. Segur (LU), 6-2, 6-4
4. Azuero (LU) def. Sterling (JMU) def. 6-1, 6-4
5. Sentenac (JMU) def. Secanell (LU), 7-5, 6-4
6. Samaai (LU) def. Branth (JMU), 6-1, 6-3
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
6,3,4,5,1,2