Liberty University
Charlotte
Flames Edge 49ers 4-3 in Sunday Road Match
2/7/2021 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Liberty Flames earned a thrilling 4-3 road victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Sunday afternoon at Life Time Athletic Charlotte.
Christiaan Worst of the Flames delivered in the No. 5 singles match. With the match tied 3-3, Worst battled past Stefanos Savva in a third-set tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-3), giving the Flames a dramatic 4-3 triumph. Worst edged Savva 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3) in the match, giving Liberty its third straight victory.
The Flames improve to 4-3 on the season. Charlotte falls to 3-3 and has lost two straight.
Liberty narrowly lost the doubles point but rebounded and won at No. 6, No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 singles.
Thoughts From Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"It was an awesome team push today. Responding to adversity is such an important part of this team. We will stay hungry and stay humble. It's an honor to represent Liberty."
Liberty 4, Charlotte 3
Singles Competition
1. Olle Wallin (CLT) def. Nicaise Muamba (LIBERTYM) 7-5, 6-3
2. Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Henry Lieberman (CLT) 6-2, 6-4
3. Ignasi de Rueda (CLT) def. R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Goncalo Ferreira (LIBERTYM) def. Ben Wayand (CLT) 7-5, 6-2
5. Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) def. Stefanos Savva (CLT) 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) def. Leo Menezes (CLT) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Olle Wallin/Ignasi de Rueda (CLT) def. Josh Wilson/Goncalo Ferreira (LIBERTYM) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Christiaan Worst/Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) def. Ben Wayand/Stefanos Savva (CLT) 6-2
3. Henry Lieberman/Leo Menezes (CLT) def. Nicaise Muamba/R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) 6-4
Liberty 4-3
Charlotte 3-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,2,4,1,3,5)
T-3:30
How It Happened
• Charlotte found itself ahead 1-0 in the match after flipping a pair of doubles contests in their favor. The 49ers' No. 3 duo, Henry Lieberman and Leo Menezes, trailed Liberty's Nicaise Muamba and Rafael Marques Da Silva 4-3 but took the last three games for a 6-4 decision.
• The 49ers' Olle Wallin and Ignasi de Rueda trailed Josh Wilson and Goncalo Ferreira 5-4 in the No. 1 match. Wallin and de Rueda eventually took the match to a tiebreaker, which they won 7-6 (3) to secure the first point of the afternoon.
• Christiaan Worst and Deji Thomas-Smith of the Flames closed out their match first. The duo topped Ben Wayand and Savva 6-2 on court two for its first victory of 2021.
• Liberty responded by winning first sets on five courts and taking the first three singles points for a 3-1 lead. First, Thomas-Smith controlled his match with Menezes, winning 6-0, 6-2. Thomas-Smith improves to 3-1 in singles this year.
• Reigning ASUN Player of the Week Wilson earned his fourth singles win of the season, defeating Lieberman 6-2, 6-4 on court two for the Flames' first lead of the day at 2-1.
• Ferreira of Liberty delivered his second singles victory of the weekend with a 7-5, 6-2 result over Wayand in the No. 4 slot for a 3-1 Flames advantage.
• Charlotte staved off defeat with wins in the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. At No. 1 singles, Wallin knocked off Muamba in two sets (7-5, 6-3), while de Rueda topped the Flames' Rafael Marques Da Silva in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-4).
• Worst's victory was his first three-set triumph in a Liberty uniform and first match-clinching point as a Flame.
• Three years ago on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 4, 2018) the Flames also won a 4-3 road match. Liberty's Diego Castano was victorious in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-3) against Kennesaw State's Harrison Wood to give Liberty the one-point victory.
• Liberty has now won two matches this season after losing the doubles point. The Flames defeated Elon by a 5-2 score at home on Jan. 18 despite falling in the doubles session.
• The Flames are now 2-1 all-time against the 49ers. Prior to Sunday, the two teams had not met in nearly eight years (March 19, 2013).
Next Up
• The Flames will return to action next Saturday at home against the William & Mary Tribe (1-0). First serve is pegged for 1 p.m.
• Liberty is 2-7 all-time against the Tribe but has taken each of the last two meetings (2019 and 2020).
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:
6,2,4,1,3,5