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Liberty University
ITA All-American Championships
Liberty Wins 3 Matches on Second Day of Pre-Qualifying in Tulsa
10/3/2021 10:05:40 PM | Men's Tennis
The Liberty men’s tennis team picked up three more singles wins on the second day of competition at the ITA All-American Championships, Sunday.
The Flames’ Josh Wilson and Zion Heaven won their pre-qualifying third round matches, and Deji Thomas-Smith claimed victory in a pre-qualifying consolation bout.
Through two days of competition at the prestigious event, held at Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center and at the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park, Liberty has nine total singles wins.
Key Stats & Notes
• Wilson’s third round win came on Sunday afternoon against Udayan Bhakar of St. John’s in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
• Later in the day, Wilson squared off against Texas A&M’s Luke Casper and played another three-set match. Casper edged Wilson 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5). Wilson is 3-1 in singles through two days.
• Heaven met Tennessee Tech’s Carlos Vicente in his first match of the day. He prevailed in comeback fashion in three sets, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3.
• In his next match, Heaven lost to Oklahoma’s Welsh Hotard in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. He is 3-1 in singles at the event.
• Liberty’s Goncalo Ferreira won two singles matches yesterday and faced Ohio State’s Andrew Lutschaunig in his third match. Lutschaunig topped Ferreira 6-3, 6-3.
• Flames sophomore Deji Thomas-Smith battled Antoine Audrain of Southern Miss, Sunday at noon Eastern. Thomas-Smith took the match by a 7-6 (2), 6-2 score.
• Ferreira (5-1) and Wilson (5-3) share the team lead with five singles victories so far this fall.
Up Next
The Flames will be back in action on Monday. Rafael Marques Da Silva will begin his journey at the tournament with qualifying. His first match is scheduled for 9 a.m. Eastern versus Auburn’s Tad McLean.
Marques Da Silva and Deji Thomas-Smith will play in doubles qualifying as well. The duo will battle Oklahoma State’s Tyler Zink and Luke Hammond, Monday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
Remaining Schedule
Oct. 4-5
Qualifying (Doubles and Singles)
Oct. 6-10
Main Draw
