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Liberty University
Michigan State
No. 69 Flames Down No. 67 Spartans 4-1 for Second Big Ten Win of Season
3/11/2023 8:55:23 PM | Men's Tennis
The No. 69-ranked Liberty Flames downed the No. 67-ranked Michigan State Spartans 4-1 on day two of Arizona State’s Diablos Tennis Tournament, Saturday afternoon at the Kiwanis Tennis Center.
Liberty has now defeated two Big Ten squads this year. The Flames topped No. 46 Penn State 6-1 at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center, Feb. 24.
Liberty improves to 6-7 on the season and 1-1 on the weekend following the non-conference victory. The Flames’ win is also their third ranked triumph of the season. Their other ranked win came last Saturday over No. 70 Charlotte by a 4-3 score at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
Liberty senior Josh Wilson earned a signature singles win, defeating the Spartans’ top-ranked player, No. 29-ranked Ozan Baris.
Liberty will face either No. 61 Drake or Boise State in the consolation championship, Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern. Visit the tournament central page for more information on the event.
#69 Liberty 4, #67 Michigan State 1
Singles Competition
- Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. #29 Ozan Baris (MSUM) 6-4, 6-2
- R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) def. Max Sheldon (MSUM) 7-5, 6-3
- Luke Baylis (MSUM) def. Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) 6-2, 6-4
- Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) def. Anthony Pero (MSUM) 6-0, 6-3
- Graydon Lair (MSUM) vs. Luis Felipe Miguel (LIBERTYM) 3-6, 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
- David Saye (MSUM) vs. Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) 6-1, 2-6, 2-4, unfinished
Doubles Competition
- Ozan Baris/Anthony Pero (MSUM) vs. #74 Josh Wilson/Christiaan Worst (LIBERTYM) 5-4, unfinished
- Deji Thomas-Smith/Luis Felipe Miguel (LIBERTYM) def. Reed Crocker/Graydon Lair (MSUM) 6-1
- R. Marques Da Silva/Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) def. Kazuki Matsuno/Max Sheldon (MSUM) 6-3
Liberty 6-7; National ranking #69
Michigan State 5-7; National ranking #67
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,1,3,2)
T-2:25
How It Happened
• Liberty took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles session. The Flames’ Deji Thomas-Smith and Luis Felipe Miguel continued their winning ways with a 6-1 triumph over the Spartans’ Reed Crocker and Grayson Lair. The Liberty duo has won five straight matches and improves to 7-3 overall.
• The Flames’ Rafael Marques Da Silva and Thando Longwe-Smit won for the second time in as many days, besting Kazuki Matsuno and Max Sheldon 6-3 on court three.
• Liberty’s lead grew to 2-0 following a convincing 6-0, 6-3 win from Thomas-Smith against Anthony Pero on court four.
• Wilson’s win came next for a 3-0 lead, with the Flames fifth-year senior knocking off No. 29 Baris 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Wilson has two ranked singles triumphs on the year. His other ranked win came against NC State’s No. 70 Robin Catry at the ITA All-American Championships in the fall.
• MSU put its first point on the board, with Luke Baylis knocking off Christiaan Worst 6-2, 6-4 to trim the Liberty lead to 3-1.
• Liberty sealed the 4-1 win, as Marques Da Silva bested Sheldon 7-5, 6-3 on court two.
Next Up
• Liberty will face either No. 61 Drake or Boise State in the consolation championship, Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
• The Flames have never faced the Bulldogs or Broncos.
Main Photo at Top of Story: Josh Wilson
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
4,1,3,2