Miguel Advances to Gold Draw on Day Three of ITA Atlantic Regional
10/13/2023 6:43:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Sophomore Luis Felipe Miguel secured two victories on Friday in the silver singles draw to advance to the quarterfinal round in the ITA Atlantic Regional. Liberty is hosting the six-day, 24-team, event at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
The Flames went 5-4 as a team today with five other Liberty athletes participating.
Miguel opened Friday with a swift victory over Morgan State's Niles Rachal, 6-1, 6-4. The Goiania, Brazil native was tested against Delaware's Javier Ruiz Medina. In a tight first set, Miguel edged Medina in a tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6). Medina gained the momentum of the match, riding that to a 6-1, second-set win.
Miguel showed grit, catching fire in the third set in what ended up becoming the final game of the match with Miguel up 5-1, the sophomore hit a miraculous winner hustling out the frame of the court and screaming a forehand past a net-front Medina. The final score of the match with a 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-1 score.
With his three victories in the silver draw. Miguel secured a spot in the gold singles bracket that is set to play in Saturday's action at the event.
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"We are gaining valuable info on how we're going to move forward, get better, sharpen and improve our games. It's always good to get tested, we are going to look to improve our ability to finish points at the net and our intangibles. Overall, the team is sticking together well. Unity is a big theme and we want to look to enjoy every opportunity we have to represent liberty and compete."
How it Happened
Up Next
Liberty returns to action at the ITA Atlantic Regional on Saturday at the Liberty Tennis Complex. Rafael Marques Da Silva will make his first appearance at the ITA Atlantic Regional. Miguel and Marques Da Silva are set to begin play at 9 a.m. at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
The Flames went 5-4 as a team today with five other Liberty athletes participating.
Miguel opened Friday with a swift victory over Morgan State's Niles Rachal, 6-1, 6-4. The Goiania, Brazil native was tested against Delaware's Javier Ruiz Medina. In a tight first set, Miguel edged Medina in a tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6). Medina gained the momentum of the match, riding that to a 6-1, second-set win.
Miguel showed grit, catching fire in the third set in what ended up becoming the final game of the match with Miguel up 5-1, the sophomore hit a miraculous winner hustling out the frame of the court and screaming a forehand past a net-front Medina. The final score of the match with a 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-1 score.
With his three victories in the silver draw. Miguel secured a spot in the gold singles bracket that is set to play in Saturday's action at the event.
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"We are gaining valuable info on how we're going to move forward, get better, sharpen and improve our games. It's always good to get tested, we are going to look to improve our ability to finish points at the net and our intangibles. Overall, the team is sticking together well. Unity is a big theme and we want to look to enjoy every opportunity we have to represent liberty and compete."
How it Happened
- Redshirt freshman Chase Robinson picked up a victory over William & Mary's Oliver Hauge 6-4, 7-6 (3), in the second round of the silver singles draw. Robinson was matched up with James Madison's Esteve Agusti, with the latter coming away with the victory 6-3, 7-6 (6). Robinson was 2-1 over the course of the event.
- Freshman Matija Samardzic was taken down in the second round by Virginia Tech's Alberto Orso 6-4, 6-0.
- Deji Thomas-Smith was taken down in the second round by VCU's Hamza El Amine 7-5, 6-4.
- Thando Longwe-Smit won his back-draw match today over Virginia Tech's Diego Cueto de Romana, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
- Robinson and Samardzic were paired together in the silver doubles draw. The two were defeated in an eight-game pro set match to Duquesne's Tamirlan Teberikov and Kaipo Marshall 8-5.
- The pair returned for a consolation match, topping George Mason's Hayden Postin and Zavan Fahim, 8-7 (4). Robinson concludes his time at the ITA Atlantic Regional with a 3-2 record and Samardzic a 2-2 mark.
Up Next
Liberty returns to action at the ITA Atlantic Regional on Saturday at the Liberty Tennis Complex. Rafael Marques Da Silva will make his first appearance at the ITA Atlantic Regional. Miguel and Marques Da Silva are set to begin play at 9 a.m. at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
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