Liberty University
Akron
Lady Flames Extend Win Streak to Four
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Liberty women's tennis team defeated Akron, 5-2, at the Latuchie Tennis Center in Akron, Ohio, Sunday.
With the win, the Lady Flames run their winning streak to four matches and continue the best start in program history with a 6-1 record to open their 2015 campaign. Liberty snaps the Zips' five-match winning streak, as Akron falls to 5-2 on the year.
Liberty began the contest with a 2-1 advantage to take the doubles point for a 1-0 lead.
Maria Khval and Brittany Yang teamed up in the No. 1 doubles position, falling short against Martina Zerbola and Sophia Geier, 6-2.
However, the doubles tandem of Valerie Thong and Evangeline Crist evened the doubles score at one apiece by besting Karolina Maksimava and Ariadna Blinova, 6-2
Belen Rivera and Mariely Hassey clinched the doubles point for the red and blue after a hard fought tiebreaking win, 7-6 (8-6) over Olga Shkundina and Shannon Newnes. Down 6-5 and facing defeat, Rivera and Hassey rally from 40-0 in the final set to come back to win the set and force a tiebreaker. While in the tiebreaker, the duo found themselves behind 6-3. Once again, the pair fought back, keeping the match alive and notching five straight points to win the tiebreaker, 8-6, and secure the doubles point for Liberty.
Rivera found herself in another tightly-contested match in the singles competition against Maksimava. The Akron sophomore ousted Rivera, 6-3, 6-4, to give the Zips their first point of the match.
Hassey provided the Lady Flames with another point after defeating Madison Cohen in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Senior Yang provided some breathing room for Liberty by besting Zerbola, 6-3, 6-4 to extend the lead to 3-1.
Crist clinched the match for the Lady Flames by downing Blinova. The freshman secured the first set 7-5, before besting Blinova, 6-4, in the second set to continue Liberty's red hot start.
With the match already in hand, the Lady Flames won one of the final two matches of competition. Khval ousted Shkundina in the No. 4 spot, 7-5, 7-5, for Liberty's final point of the match.
Akron's Geier defeated senior Nicola Wellman in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, for the final match score of 5-2.
"This was the most complete match that we have played in the three years that I've been here," commented head coach Jeff Maren. "Our mental strength was very high and we executed shots under pressure against a very good team. I am so proud of each of our girls. We are already looking forward to our next match."
The Lady Flames return to action on Saturday, Valentine's Day, when they play host to in-state opponent James Madison. The contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at the Sports Racket.
Liberty 5, Akron 2
Doubles
- Zerbola/Geier (UA) def. Khval/Yang (LU), 6-2
- Thong/Crist (LU) def. Maksimava/Blinova (UA), 6-2
- Rivera/Hassey (LU) def. Shkundina/Newnes (UA), 7-6 (6)
Singles
- Maksimava (UA) def. Rivera (LU), 6-3, 6-4
- Hassey (LU) def. Cohen (UA), 6-3, 6-2
- Yang (LU) def. Zerbola (UA), 6-3, 6-4
- Khval (LU) def. Shkundina (UA), 7-5, 7-5
- Crist (LU) def. Blinova (UA), 7-5, 6-4
- Geier (UA) def. Wellman (LU), 6-3, 6-3
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match