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Liberty University
Gonzaga
Liberty Outlast Toledo in California Finale
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Liberty Lady Flames tennis squad defeated Toledo by a score of 6-1 in Thursday's doubleheader in Palm Springs, Calif. Liberty fell in match one to Gonzaga (4-3) and then rebounded to cruise past the Rockets.
With the victory, the Lady Flames improved to 6-8 on the year. Meanwhile Toledo fell to 5-7.
For the eighth consecutive match, and 10th time in the last 11 contests, the Lady Flames secured the doubles point for an early 1-0 advantage. Liberty fell behind the Rockets, slipping in the No. 3 doubles position by a score of 6-2.
The Lady Flames bounced back to win the final two doubles matches, beginning with Maria Khval and Anna Dollar's 6-2 triumph over Mackenzie Bowman and Rani Goodland.
Evangeline Crist and Valerie Thong became Liberty's first doubles tandem with 10 wins during the spring this season, besting Sidnay Huck and Emily Mazzola in the No. 1 doubles position, 7-5. The Liberty duo's victory provided the Lady Flames with the early 1-0 lead.
From that point on it would be all Liberty. The Lady Flames won the first five singles matches to take a commanding 6-0 lead, having already claimed the match. Mariely Hassey began singles play with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Claire Aleck in the No. 5 singles position.
Belen Rivera and Crist were the next two singles victories for the Lady Flames with Rivera downing Megan Miller from the No. 4 singles spot, 6-1, 6-2. Crist then bested Colleen O'Brien in the No. 3 singles position, 6-1, 6-3, providing Liberty with its 4-0 lead to clinch the contest.
Khval and Dollar each won in straight sets for the Lady Flames, competing in the No. 1 and No. 2 slots, respectively.
Toledo's Lauren Thai kept the Rockets from being swept by the Lady Flames, defeating Lauren Mabe in three sets from the No. 6 position, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6.
"This week has been filled with heartbreaks and comebacks, wins and losses," stated head coach Jeff Maren. "Most importantly, the girls are strengthening their mental skills. My hope is that we will be more prepared for conference play as a result of these matches."
The Lady Flames return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Radford, Va., to take on Big South foe Radford at 2 p.m. Liberty enters Radford looking for its second consecutive 3-0 start in conference play.
Liberty 6, Toledo 1
Doubles
- Crist/Thong (LU) def. Huck/Mazzola (UT), 7-5
- Khval/Dollar (LU) def. Bowman/Goodland (UT), 6-2
- Miller/Thai (UT) def. Anderson/Groeneveld (LU), 6-2
Singles
- Khval (LU) def. Huck (UT), 6-2, 6-2
- Dollar (LU) def. Mazzola (UT), 7-5, 6-3
- Crist (LU) def. O'Brien (UT), 6-1, 6-3
- Rivera (LU) def. Miller (UT), 6-1, 6-2
- Hassey (LU) def. Aleck (UT), 6-0, 6-1
- Thai (UT) def. Mabe (LU), 4-6, 6-3, 10-6
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,6,3,1,4,2