Liberty University
Jacksonville State
No. 71 Liberty Collects First ASUN Win, 5-2 Over JSU
3/25/2022 8:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
No. 71 Liberty collected its first ASUN win, defeating Jacksonville State 5-2 on Friday afternoon at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
The Flames extend their home winning streak to 17 matches, a streak that started on Feb. 28, 2020. Liberty improves to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in the ASUN this year. Meanwhile, JSU (6-5) suffers its first ASUN loss and is 1-1 in league play.
Liberty 5, Jacksonville State 2
Singles Competition
- Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Joaquin Vallejo (JSUMT22) 6-4, 6-4
- Nicaise Muamba (LIBERTYM) def. Maj Tomac (JSUMT22) 6-1, 6-2
- R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) def. Thomas Norwood (JSUMT22) 6-4, 6-3
- Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) def. Vicente Arbelaez (JSUMT22) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
- Vanja Dobrnjac (JSUMT22) def. Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 0-6, 6-1
- Jordi Blanchar (JSUMT22) def. Zion Heaven (LIBERTYM) 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
Doubles Competition
- Nicaise Muamba/R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) def. Joaquin Vallejo/Aljaz Kaplja (JSUMT22) 6-3
- Omar El Kadi/Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) def. Maj Tomac/Vanja Dobrnjac (JSUMT22) 6-2
- Josh Wilson/Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) vs. Jordi Blanchar/Thomas Norwood (JSUMT22) 4-4, unfinished
Liberty 5-8, 1-2 ASUN; National ranking #71
Jacksonville State 6-5, 1-1 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,1,3,5,4,6)
Official: Harrison/Lunsford T-2:31
How It Happened
• Liberty won the doubles point for a second straight match and third time in its last four contests. The Flames claimed the No. 1-4 singles matches.
• The Flames' top two doubles units each won their respective matches to put Liberty ahead 1-0. Liberty's first pairing to close it out was the No. 2 team of Omar El Kadi and Thando Longwe-Smit. El Kadi and Longwe-Smit controlled their match with Maj Tomac and Vanja Dobrnjac
• Nicaise Muamba and Rafael Marques Da Silva led throughout their match on the way to a 6-3 triumph over Joaquin Vallejo and Aljaz Kaplja. The Liberty duo improves to 2-0 in the No. 1 slot and 5-2 in spring competition.
• Playing in the No. 2 slot in the singles lineup for the first time this year, Muamba bested Tomac 6-1, 6-2 for his eighth win of the season. One court over (No. 1), Wilson battled past Vallejo 6-4, 6-4 for a 3-0 Flames lead. Wilson played in the No. 1 singles position today for the first time since Feb. 23, 2019.
• Wilson (68 career wins) is two wins shy of 70 career singles victories. With two more victories, he will become the eighth player in program history to reach the milestone.
• Marques Da Silva officially secured the home triumph with a 6-4, 6-3 result over Thomas Norwood on court three. Liberty led 4-0 after that victory.
• The final three matches on court (No. 4-6 singles) all needed three sets to decide a winer. The Gamecocks' Dobrnjac (No. 5 singles) scored the first point of the day for the visitors by virtue of a three-set win against his opponent, Longwe-Smit (6-3, 0-6, 6-1).
• The Flames' No. 4 singles player today, Worst, overcame a one-set deficit to Vicente Arbelaez to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. Worst, who matched a team high with his seventh spring singles victory, put the home side up 5-1 with the point.
• The final match on court went to the Gamecocks' Jordi Blanchar in comeback fashion (1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4) versus Zion Heaven of Liberty.
• Liberty improves to 1-1 all-time versus JSU. The only other meeting between the two squads came in 1989.
• The Flames bolster their record to 3-0 all-time in ASUN home openers.
Next Up
• Liberty will be back on its home courts Saturday against the No. 60-ranked Florida Atlantic Owls (13-4). Match time is 1 p.m. at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
• The Flames are 1-1 all-time against FAU. Liberty defeated FAU 5-2 in the most recent meeting on March 12, 2021.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3,5,4,6
