Marques Da Silva Named ASUN Player of the Week for 3rd Time
3/17/2021 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Rafael Marques Da Silva of the Liberty Flames men's tennis team has been named the ASUN Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the third time this season.
Marques Da Silva and the Flames have featured a conference-best seven ASUN Player of the Week recipients through nine weeks of the 2021 campaign. Marques Da Silva and Nicaise Muamba have three each, while Josh Wilson was named ASUN Player of the Week once this spring.
"Rafael is a tough competitor. He loves to fight for the team," stated Liberty Men's Tennis Head Coach Derek Schwandt. "We appreciate his consistency and passion."
Marques Da Silva won three of his four matches in Florida last week at South Florida and Florida Atlantic. Last Friday at FAU, he teamed up with Muamba for a 6-2 triumph over Kevin Huempfner and Alvaro Fernandez Horta, as the Flames won the doubles point. In singles, Marques Da Silva bested Huempfner in comeback fashion (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) on court two to give Liberty the match-clinching point in a 5-2 win over the Owls.
Last Wednesday at USF, Marques Da Silva won 7-6 (3), 6-4 at No. 3 singles over the Bulls' Pierre Luquet.
Marques Da Silva, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, is 10-4 in singles this season. In doubles, he and Muamba lead the squad with eight victories against only three losses.
Marques Da Silva and the Flames (9-5) will play their next match at North Alabama (2-8). The contest, Liberty's first ASUN bout of the season, is set for a 3 p.m. Eastern start at the UNA Varsity Tennis Courts.
2021 ASUN Men's Tennis Player of the Week Honorees
Jan. 20 – Rafael Marques Da Silva, Liberty
Jan. 27 – Nicaise Muamba, Liberty
Feb. 3 – Josh Wilson, Liberty
Feb. 10 – Dominik Barton, North Florida
Feb. 17 – Nicaise Muamba, Liberty
Feb. 24 – Rafael Marques Da Silva, Liberty
March 3 – Alessandro Conca, FGCU
March 10 – Nicaise Muamba, Liberty
March 17 – Rafael Marques Da Silva, Liberty
