Liberty University
George Washington
Flames Battle Past Colonials in Home Opener, 6-1 on Friday
2/15/2019 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Liberty men's tennis team took down the George Washington Colonials 6-1 in its 2019 home opener, Friday at Crosswhite Athletic Club.
The Flames' victory snaps a four-match skid and brings their record to 2-5. George Washington falls to 2-2 on the season.
Liberty took all three doubles matches and the first five singles bouts (No. 1-5 singles) in the winning effort.
Liberty 6, George Washington 1
Singles Competition
1. #104 Nicaise Muamba (LIBERTYM) def. Zicheng Zeng (GW) 6-3, 6-1
2. Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Ryan Navarro (GW) 6-1, 7-5
3. Eddie Gutierrez (LIBERTYM) def. Ben Barnett (GW) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
4. Ian Sturgill (LIBERTYM) def. Lawrence Sciglitano (GW) 6-4, 6-2
5. Chase Burton (LIBERTYM) def. Dennis Afanasev (GW) 6-3, 6-3
6. Hanyu Liu (GW) def. William Barker (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Nicaise Muamba/Chase Burton (LIBERTYM) def. Zicheng Zeng/Ben Barnett (GW) 6-2
2. Eddie Gutierrez/Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Lawrence Sciglitano/Hanyu Liu (GW) 6-2
3. Steve Mundt/Vince Salas (LIBERTYM) def. Ryan Navarro/Dennis Afanasev (GW) 6-4
George Washington 2-2
Liberty 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,5,4,3,6)
T-3:03
Thoughts From Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"Our goal is to fight for every point from start to finish. Our guys did a good job of this tonight."
How It Happened
- Liberty swept the doubles matches to stake an early 1-0 lead in the contest. It started on court one with sophomore Nicaise Muamba and Chase Burton of the Flames taking down Zicheng Zeng and Ben Barnett of the Colonials, 6-2. The Flames' Steve Mundt and Vince Salas, playing for the first time as a duo, won on court three, 6-4 over George Washington's Ryan Navarro and Dennis Afanasev.
- Liberty's Eddie Gutierrez and Josh Wilson, who were a nationally-ranked doubles pairing in the fall, completed the sweep with a 6-2 triumph over Lawrence Sciglitano and Hanyu Liu. The Flames led 1-0 over Gutierrez and Wilson's victory, their seventh of the season.
- A dominating singles session featuring five straight-set victories lifted Liberty to a five-point win. No. 104 Muamba defeated Zeng in two sets (6-3, 6-1) at No. 1 singles, and Wilson topped Navarro 6-1, 7-5 at No. 2 singles to make it 3-0.
- Burton wrapped up the win for the Flames with his 6-3, 6-3 decision over Afanasev on court five. Freshman Ian Sturgill provided Liberty a five-point lead (5-0) with his 6-4, 6-2 victory against Sciglitano.
- The two teams split the last two matches on court (No. 3 and No. 6 singles). Gutierrez of the Flames knocked off his counterpart, Barnett, 6-2, 7-6 (2) on court three. At No. 6 singles, the Colonials' Liu upended Flames freshman William Barker in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) for the visitors' only point of the match.
- Liberty is 2-1 in home openers over the past three seasons.
Next Up
- The Flames will take on the William & Mary Tribe (0-5), Saturday at 4 p.m. Match time is set for 4 p.m. at Boonsboro Country Club in Lynchburg.
- Liberty is in search of its first-ever win over the Tribe. William & Mary won the most recent matchup, 5-2 on March 3, 2018.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,5,4,3,6