Soares Named Women’s Tennis Assistant Coach
7/22/2022 11:40:46 AM | Women's Tennis
Liberty Women’s Tennis Head Coach Jeff Maren has announced the hiring of Lara Soares as an assistant coach.
“Lara has been simply amazing for us, both as a player and a coach! As a player, she played an integral role in our continued success in the Big South and in our first year in the ASUN,” Maren stated. “As a student assistant coach, she did an excellent job of translating her experience as a player into learning opportunities for our team in practices and in competition. We are thrilled to have her step into a bigger role with the team and help us build a bigger platform for Christ.”
Soares spent the 2021-22 school year as a student assistant coach for Liberty. Soares helped the Lady Flames match a program record with 19 wins (19-8 record) and reach their first ASUN Championship final in program history. Liberty saw three players named to the ASUN All-Conference team, led by first team selection and ASUN Freshman of the Year Maria Juliana Parra Romero.
Soares steps into her role as assistant coach as associate head coach Giancarlo Lemmi transitions into a role as Director of Operations for Liberty Men’s and Women’s Tennis.
Soares enjoyed a successful playing career for the Lady Flames, competing during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons after transferring from Southwest Baptist. During her final season at Liberty, Soares garnered a No. 64 national singles ranking, the best mark of any player in program history. She served as a team captain and earned VaSID All-State singles second team honors as well as VaSID All-State doubles second team recognition with her partner Maria Medina. Soares also earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors and was voted to the ASUN All-Academic team as well as the ASUN Academic Honor Roll
As a junior during the 2017-18 season, Soares was tabbed to the Big South All-Conference first team in both singles and doubles and VaSID All-State doubles first team. Soares earned Big South Presidential Honor Roll distinction in 2018 as well.
Soares graduated from Liberty in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, earning magna cum laude distinction. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sport management: coaching and athletic administration, which she expects to complete in May 2023.
Prior to returning to Liberty, Soares served as an assistant tennis coach at HIT TÊNIS in Brasilia, Brazil from July 2019-July 2021. In that role, she coached youth tennis players ages 9-18 and guided them towards scholarship opportunities.
