Liberty University
Chattanooga
Liberty Wins Fourth Straight, Defeats Chattanooga 7-0
3/14/2019 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Liberty won its fourth straight match, sweeping Chattanooga 7-0 in a neutral-site bout at the FGCU Tennis Complex on Thursday.
The Lady Flames improve to 7-5 on the season and have not lost since Feb. 23. The Mocs have now lost three straight, two of which have come against ASUN opponents (FGCU, Liberty).
After edging Chattanooga in a tiebreaker on court one in doubles, Liberty was victorious in all six singles contests, five of which came in straight sets.
Liberty 7, Chattanooga 0
Singles competition
1. Ashley Bongart (LIBERTYW) def. Polina Goloputova (UTC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Kalani Soli (LIBERTYW) def. Bogdana Zaporozhets (UTC) 6-2, 6-4
3. Maria Medina (LIBERTYW) def. Delaney Edwards (UTC) 6-3, 6-1
4. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) def. Caroline Hall (UTC) 6-4, 6-0
5. Grace Hashiguchi (LIBERTYW) def. Emma Van Hee (UTC) 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)
6. Anna Dollar (LIBERTYW) def. Lilly Holmes (UTC) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Maria Medina/Lara Soares (LIBERTYW) def. Delaney Edwards/Emma Van Hee (UTC) 7-6 (9-7)
2. Annie Tarwater/Lilly Holmes (UTC) def. Grace Hashiguchi/Nasha Ghajar (LIBERTYW) 6-1
3. Anna Dollar/Ashley Bongart (LIBERTYW) def. Bogdana Zaporozhets/Polina Goloputova (UTC) 6-4
Liberty 7-5
Chattanooga 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,2,3,4,5,6)
T-2:30
Thoughts From Head Coach Jeff Maren
"This was a tough day with lots of wind and a tough opponent, but we did a great job of playing through the adversity and finding a way to get it done. I'm very proud of how we have been steadily growing as a team. We are looking forward to our next match already! To God be the glory!"
How It Happened
- After splitting the first two doubles matches (courts two and three), Lady Flames seniors Maria Medina and Lara Soares found themselves tied at 6-6 with the Mocs' Delaney Edwards and Emma Van Hee in the No. 1 doubles matches. Edwards and Van Hee led 6-3 in the tiebreaker and had three match point opportunities. Medina and Soares staved off defeat and pulled out the tiebreaker 9-7 for a 7-6 (7) triumph, which made it 1-0 Liberty.
- Chattanooga's Annie Tarwater and Lilly Holmes defeated Liberty's Grace Hashiguchi and Nasha Ghajar 6-1 in the No. 2 doubles match. At No. 3 doubles, seniors Anna Dollar and Ashley Bongart of the Lady Flames got past Bogdana Zaporozhets and Polina Goloputova 6-4.
- Liberty's top two singles players, Bongart (No. 1) and Soli (No. 2), both picked up straight-sets victories. Bongart's match ended first, 6-2, 6-2 over Goloputova. Soli's victory, her fourth straight singles triumph, was by a 6-2, 6-4 score against Zaporozhets and provided the Lady Flames a 3-0 edge in the match.
- Medina had the match-clinching point in the No. 3 slot. She defeated Edwards 6-3, 6-1. After sitting out the doubles session, Lady Flames freshman Alexandra Almborg topped Caroline Hall 6-4, 6-0 on court four.
- With a 5-0 lead, Hashiguchi and Dollar completed the sweep with victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Hashiguchi had to work three sets and come from behind. She defeated Van 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9). Dollar earned his sixth straight win, topping Holmes in two sets (6-2, 6-4) for Liberty's seventh point of the day.
- This was Liberty's second 7-0 sweep of the season. The other came in the Lady Flames' only home match against Navy, Feb. 2.
- Thursday's match was the first-ever meeting between the Lady Flames and Mocs.
- Liberty is 2-0 in neutral-site matches in 2019 and 6-5 overall away from Lynchburg.
Next Up
- Liberty will look to extend its winning streak to five matches when it takes on Florida Gulf Coast (5-6, 0-1 ASUN) on Saturday. First serve between the Lady Flames and Eagles is set for 10 a.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
- The match between Liberty and FGCU is the first-ever meeting between the two teams. This is also the inaugural ASUN Conference match for the Lady Flames.
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:
1,2,3,4,5,6