Liberty University
VCU
Flames Fall to Rams 4-3 on Saturday
3/2/2019 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Liberty and VCU played a highly competitive match on Saturday afternoon, with the Rams slipping past the Flames 4-3 at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.
The Rams won the doubles point, and the two teams split the six singles matches contested. The final result was ultimately decided in the No. 6 singles match, with Timo Zgraggen of VCU defeating Steve Mundt of the Flames 6-4, 7-5.
Liberty drops to 4-8 on the season and has lost three of its last four matches. VCU bolsters its overall record to 7-4 and has won three straight.
VCU 4, Liberty 3
Singles Competition
1. #99 Nicaise Muamba (LIBERTYM) def. Rayane Stable (VCUM) 6-3, 6-1
2. Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Arvid Noren (VCUM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Philip Mobius (VCUM) def. Eddie Gutierrez (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 6-3
4. Inigo Torre Martin (VCUM) def. Chase Burton (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-1
5. Ian Sturgill (LIBERTYM) def. Javier Amantegui (VCUM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Timo Zgraggen (VCUM) def. Steve Mundt (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles Competition
1. Rayane Stable/Javier Amantegui (VCUM) def. Nicaise Muamba/Chase Burton (LIBERTYM) 6-4
2. Arvid Noren/Inigo Torre Martin (VCUM) def. Josh Wilson/Ian Sturgill (LIBERTYM) 6-3
3. Philip Mobius/Inaki Rivero Crespo (VCUM) def. Steve Mundt/Vince Salas (LIBERTYM) 6-4
Liberty 4-8
VCU 7-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,2,5,6)
Thoughts From Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"Our guys showed strong fight tonight. It was a great college match. Our guys played disciplined and aggressive."
How It Happened
- Liberty saw its streak of winning the doubles point end at five matches. VCU swept the three doubles matches, with courts two and three deciding the doubles point.
- The Rams' team of Arvid Noren and Inigo Torre Martin upended the Flames' Josh Wilson and Ian Sturgill 6-3 at the No. 2 post. Philip Mobius and Inaki Rivero Crespo of VCU topped Steve Mundt and Vince Salas of Liberty 6-4 at No. 3 doubles, which made it 1-0 Rams. It was Mundt and Salas' first loss of the spring (5-1 record).
- Reigning ASUN Player of the Week Nicaise Muamba, the No. 99 singles player in the nation, evened up the match at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Rayane Stable (VCU). Muamba's victory was his team-best 17th singles win of 2018-19.
- Torre Martin (VCU) put the hosts ahead again (2-1) with his two-set win (6-3, 6-1) over Chase Burton (Liberty) on court four. The Rams Mobius' made it 3-1 with a straight-sets victory against Eddie Gutierrez of the Flames in the No. 3 slot.
- Liberty freshman Josh Wilson brought the visitors within one (3-2) with a three-set decision over Noren (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) at No. 2 singles.
- The No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches were the last two matches to begin and finish up. Sturgill of Liberty squared the match at 3-all with his two-set win (6-3, 6-2) against Javier Amantegui of VCU.
- Zgraggen provided the Rams the clinching fourth point at No. 6 singles over Mundt (6-4, 7-5).
- The Flames have now played two matches which have finished with a 4-3 score in their last four matches. Liberty also lost 4-3 at Virginia Tech, last Friday night.
- Liberty is now 0-4 all-time against VCU.
Next Up
- The Flames will face the Richmond Spiders (8-3) in a neutral-site bout on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. The match will be contested indoors at Virginia's Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va.
- The Spiders hold an 11-3 edge in the all-time series. Richmond topped Liberty 4-3 in the most recent meeting, Jan. 26, 2018 at Crosswhite Athletic Club in Lynchburg.
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:
1,4,3,2,5,6