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Liberty University
Arizona State
No. 69 Liberty Falls 4-1 to No. 31 ASU in First Match of Diablos Tennis Tournament
3/10/2023 11:30:43 PM | Men's Tennis
After taking an early 1-0 lead, No. 69 Liberty could not hold off No. 31 Arizona State in the singles session, with the Sun Devils picking up a 4-1 win in the first match of the Diablos Tennis Tournament on Friday evening at the Kiwanis Tennis Center.
Liberty slips to 5-7 following the loss in what was the first-ever meeting between the two squads. The Flames will face No. 67 Michigan State (5-6) tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern in their second match of the weekend. ASU improves to 10-3 and will take on No. 50 Texas Tech (7-6) on Saturday at 3 p.m. as well. Visit the tournament central page for more information on the event.
#31 Arizona State 4, #69 Liberty 1
Singles Competition
- #57 Murphy Cassone (ASU) def. Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-1
- Max McKennon (ASU) def. R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-3
- Jacob Bullard (ASU) vs. Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) 7-5, 4-6, 3-1, unfinished
- Constantinos Koshis (ASU) def. Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
- Roi Ginat (ASU) def. Luis Felipe Miguel (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 0-6, 6-3
- Spencer Brachman (ASU) vs. Zion Heaven (LIBERTYM) 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles Competition
- Murphy Cassone/Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. #74 Josh Wilson/Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) 6-4
- Deji Thomas-Smith/Luis Felipe Miguel (LIBERTYM) def. Max McKennon/Spencer Brachman (ASU) 6-4
- R. Marques Da Silva/Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) def. Roi Ginat/Constantinos Koshis (ASU) 7-6 (7-3)
Liberty 5-7; National ranking #69
Arizona State 10-3; National ranking #31
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,4,5)
T-2:50
How It Happened
• Paired together for the first time this spring, Rafael Marques Da Silva and Thando Longwe-Smit provided the visitors an early 1-0 edge with their tiebreaker win at No. 3 doubles over the Sun Devils’ Roi Ginat and Constantinos Koshis.
• Liberty also got a key victory on court two from Deji Thomas-Smith and Luis Felipe Miguel, who upended Max McKennon and Spencer Brachman 6-4. The Flames’ ranked doubles unit, No. 74 Josh Wilson and Christiaan Worst, fell 6-4 to Murphy Cassone and Jacob Bullard on court one in what was the first contest to wrap up.
• Three of Arizona State’s four singles triumphs came in straight sets, led by No. 57 Cassone’s 6-3, 6-1 decision over Wilson at No. 1 singles to even the match at 1-all. McKennon put the home side ahead for the first time with his 6-3, 6-3 result over Marques Da Silva for a 2-1 ASUN lead.
• After fighting past Thomas-Smith in a tiebreaker (7-6 (6)) on court four, the Sun Devils’ Koshis prevailed in another tight second set to claim the match, 7-6 (6), 6-4.
• With ASU a point away from victory, it was Ginat (No. 5 singles) who closed it out with a back-and-forth 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 triumph against Miguel to settle the final score at 4-1.
• Both unfinished matches (courts three and six) were in third sets.
Next Up
• The No. 69 Flames and No. 67 Spartans will square off at 3 p.m. Eastern, Saturday afternoon.
• This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Liberty already has win over a Big Ten team this season, besting No. 46 Penn State 6-1 at home, Feb. 24.
Main Photo at Top of Story: Rafael Marques Da Silva
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,4,5