Three Flames Compete at William & Mary College Circuit Event
10/6/2023 1:16:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty traveled three athletes to compete at the Universal Tennis College Circuit at William & Mary this past weekend. Three freshmen, Matija Samardzic, Chase Robinson (redshirt) and Ernst Gouws (redshirt) made the trip to compete at the three-day event.
Quote from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"We had a great time competing and took a lot away from the tournament. Our main focus is on building relationships and getting better. We are excited to keep building at ITA Regionals next week at Liberty."
How It Happened
Samardzic entered as the event's No. 1 seed and quickly dispatched Owen Akers 6-2, 6-2. The freshman was taken down in the second round after a tense tiebreaker with William & Mary's Satchel Benn, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (9). The Podgorica, Montenegro native took down the Tribe's Sean Joseph in a back draw match 6-3, 6-0. Samardzic completed the tournament with a 2-1 singles record.
Robinson opened the tournament with a triumph over James Smith 6-2, 6-1. The redshirt freshman was defeated in the second round in a three-set battle to Amherst's Jakob Esterowitz 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Robinson played in a consolation match, topping William & Mary's Alexander Karman 7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-0 (10-2). Robinson left the event with a 2-1 singles record.
Gouws fell in his opening match to William & Mary's Albert Hansen 6-1, 6-1. Gouws rebounded with two consolation wins over Wake Forest's Martin Masev (6-3, 6-3) and Oberlin's Sebastian Naginki (6-0, 6-2). Gouws went 2-1 overall for the tournament.
Samardzic and Robinson played a doubles match together but were taken down by Wake Forest's Emmett Potter and Vikas Deo 6-3. Gouws was paired with the Tribe's Karman to go up against the combination of Faraci and Esterowitz, with Gouws/Karman coming out on top 6-4.
Quote from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"We had a great time competing and took a lot away from the tournament. Our main focus is on building relationships and getting better. We are excited to keep building at ITA Regionals next week at Liberty."
How It Happened
Samardzic entered as the event's No. 1 seed and quickly dispatched Owen Akers 6-2, 6-2. The freshman was taken down in the second round after a tense tiebreaker with William & Mary's Satchel Benn, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (9). The Podgorica, Montenegro native took down the Tribe's Sean Joseph in a back draw match 6-3, 6-0. Samardzic completed the tournament with a 2-1 singles record.
Robinson opened the tournament with a triumph over James Smith 6-2, 6-1. The redshirt freshman was defeated in the second round in a three-set battle to Amherst's Jakob Esterowitz 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Robinson played in a consolation match, topping William & Mary's Alexander Karman 7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-0 (10-2). Robinson left the event with a 2-1 singles record.
Gouws fell in his opening match to William & Mary's Albert Hansen 6-1, 6-1. Gouws rebounded with two consolation wins over Wake Forest's Martin Masev (6-3, 6-3) and Oberlin's Sebastian Naginki (6-0, 6-2). Gouws went 2-1 overall for the tournament.
Samardzic and Robinson played a doubles match together but were taken down by Wake Forest's Emmett Potter and Vikas Deo 6-3. Gouws was paired with the Tribe's Karman to go up against the combination of Faraci and Esterowitz, with Gouws/Karman coming out on top 6-4.
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