Liberty University
FGCU
No. 68 Liberty Drops Close Match at FGCU, 4-3
3/20/2022 9:27:20 PM | Men's Tennis
No. 68-ranked Liberty dropped a 4-3 decision at FGCU on Sunday afternoon in what was a rematch of last year’s ASUN title match.
Liberty drops to 4-8 this season and 0-2 in conference play. FGCU improves to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the ASUN. The Flames bested the Eagles 4-0 in the 2021 ASUN title contest but dropped today’s match for their second loss in as many days.
FGCU 4, #68 Liberty 3
Singles Competition
- JOHNSON, Magnus (FGCUM) def. Nicaise Muamba (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-3
- Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. MONTES, Juan (FGCUM) 6-3, 6-4
- SEPULVEDA, Marcelo (FGCUM) def. R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
- WILSON, Randy (FGCUM) def. Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) 6-7, 6-4, 6-3
- STEFANACCI, Gugli (FGCUM) def. Goncalo Ferreira (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 7-5
- Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) def. LOPEZ, Juan (FGCUM) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Competition
- Nicaise Muamba/R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) def. DAMM, Max/JOHNSON, Magnus (FGCUM) 6-3
- WILSON, Randy/ONCINS, Eric (FGCUM) vs. Omar El Kadi/Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) 6-5, unfinished
- Josh Wilson/Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) def. MONTES, Juan/SEPULVEDA, Marcelo (FGCUM) 6-4
Liberty 4-8, 0-2 ASUN; National ranking #68
FGCU 9-5, 2-0 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,6,5,1,3,4)
T-3:49 A-248
How It Happened
• Liberty claimed the doubles point on the strength of its No. 1 and No. 3 units. However, FGCU was victorious in four of the six singles matches to secure the win.
• The Flames’ No. 1 doubles team on Sunday, Nicaise Muamba and Rafael Marques Da Silva, prevailed 6-3 over Max Damm and Magnus Johnson.
• Liberty won the first point of the match, as Josh Wilson and Christiaan Worst defeated Juan Montes and Marcelo Sepulveda by a 6-4 count.
• Following his doubles triumph, Wilson (No. 2 singles) prevailed 6-3, 6-4 versus Montes.
• Longwe-Smit rebounded from his doubles loss and topped FGCU’s Juan Lopez in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 on court six. The Flames led 3-0 with that victory.
• The Eagles rallied to take the final four singles matches – No. 5, No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 – in that order. Gugli Stefanacci (No. 5) bested Goncalo Ferreira of the Flames 6-4, 7-5. FGCU narrowed the gap to one, 3-2, after Johnson took down Muamba 6-3, 6-3.
• The final two matches needed three sets to decide winners. On court three, Sepulveda (FGCU) edged Marques Da Silva (Liberty) in a third-set tiebreaker to take the match, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The Eagles’ Wilson clinched the victory with a comeback win versus Worst (6-7, 6-4, 6-3)
• Liberty slips to 1-3 all-time against FGCU. Today’s setback was the Flames’ third-ever ASUN regular season loss (12-3 record).
• This is the fifth time this season the Flames have played a 4-3 match. Liberty is 1-4 in those matches.
Next Up
• The Flames will return home following their five-match road trip for three home matches, next weekend. Liberty’s first match at home in over a month will be on Friday against ASUN newcomer Jacksonville State (6-4, 1-0 ASUN). Match time is 3 p.m. at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
• Liberty and JSU will be meeting for the second time ever but first time since 1989. JSU won the inaugural meeting 33 years ago.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,6,5,1,3,4