Liberty University
Georgia State
Liberty Claims 6-1 Victory at Georgia State in Saturday's Season Opener
1/23/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The visiting Liberty Lady Flames opened their 2021 campaign with a 6-1 victory over the Georgia State Panthers, Saturday afternoon at Life Time Athletic and Tennis.
Liberty improves to 1-0 on the young season and has now won two straight season openers. Georgia State sees its record drop to 0-1. The Lady Flames are now 2-1 all-time against the Panthers.
Saturday's contest was Liberty's first dual match in 319 days. The last time the Lady Flames had competed was on March 10, 2020, a 4-2 triumph over North Texas in Honolulu, Hawaii. Liberty has won each of its last two season openers by a 6-1 count. The Lady Flames topped Miami (Ohio) 6-1 to open the 2020 campaign.
Thoughts From Associate Head Coach Giancarlo Lemmi
"I am so proud of our focus and effort today. The girls showed great faith in their games as well as in each other's games. Georgia State is a tough team, and I am very impressed by how we handled all the pressure moments. We were not afraid to go after our shots when it mattered most."
Liberty 6, Georgia State 1
Singles Competition
1. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) def. Eva Chivu (WT_GSU21) 6-4, 6-2
2. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) def. Ellie Aldrich (WT_GSU21) 6-2, 6-2
3. Angel Carney (WT_GSU21) def. Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) 6-2, 6-3
4. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Andreea Stanescu (WT_GSU21) 6-3, 6-3
5. Grace Hashiguchi (LIBERTYW) def. Alexia Alvarez (WT_GSU21) 6-0, 6-1
6. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) def. Maddy Frediani (WT_GSU21) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Alexandra Almborg/Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) def. Andreea Stanescu/Eva Chivu (WT_GSU21) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Tiffany Nguyen/Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) def. Alexia Alvarez/Angel Carney (WT_GSU21) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Marina Davtyan/Grace Hashiguchi (LIBERTYW) def. Ellie Aldrich/Maddy Frediani (WT_GSU21) 6-4
Liberty 1-0
Georgia State 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,1,2,3,4)
Official: Don Bradley T-3:00
How It Happened
• Liberty swept a close doubles session for an early 1-0 advantage. On court three, the Lady Flames' Marina Davtyan and Grace Hashiguchi led throughout much of their match with Ellie Aldrich and Maddy Frediani on the way to a 6-4 triumph. The victory was the first of Davtyan's Lady Flames career (transferred in from Tulsa).
• The other two doubles bouts both needed tiebreakers to settle a winner. Liberty's Alexandra Almborg and Eloise Saraty (No. 1 doubles), playing together for only the second time, overcame a 5-2 deficit and forced a tiebreaker. The Lady Flames tandem was victorious 7-6 (2) against Andrea Stanescu and Eva Chivu.
• In the other tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles, Liberty's Tiffany Nguyen and Micaela Ode Mitre defeated Alexia Alvarez and Angel Carney in a back-and-forth match, 7-6 (5). Nguyen and Ode Mitre are a combined 14-6 in doubles over the past two seasons, including an 8-3 mark in dual matches.
• Prior to Saturday's match, the last time the Lady Flames saw two doubles matches go to a tiebreaker came on March 17, 2019 at FGCU. On that day, Liberty prevailed on courts one as well and two to take the doubles point.
• Liberty carried over the momentum from the doubles session with straight-set victories on courts one, two, four, five and six.
• Lady Flames captain Hashiguchi provided the visitors a 2-0 edge with her 6-0, 6-1 decision versus Alvarez at No. 5 singles. In the No. 6 slot, Ode Mitre defeated Frediani 6-2, 6-2.
• With Liberty ahead 3-0, Almborg (No. 1 singles) got past Chivu in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) for her first career victory in the No. 1 slot in the lineup. The third-year player's win made it 4-0 Lady Flames, clinching the victory.
• Tiffany Nguyen (No. 2 singles) of the Lady Flames extended the advantage to 5-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph versus Adrich.
• Georgia State's lone point of the afternoon came from Carney, who topped Davtyan on court three, 6-2, 6-3.
• Liberty's Esther Lovato made the final 6-1 by besting Stanescu in back-to-back sets (6-3, 6-3). The Austin, Texas, native is now 19-5 in singles during her Lady Flames career.
• Liberty is now 9-12 all-time in dual match season openers. The Lady Flames are 6-2 in those matches over the past eight seasons.
Next Up
• Liberty will take on Mercer (0-0), Sunday in a neutral site match at Life Time Athletic and Tennis. First serve will take place at 1 p.m.
• This will be the first-ever meeting between the Lady Flames and Bears.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,6,1,2,3,4
