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Liberty University
Lipscomb
Flames Handle Lipscomb 7-0, Earn 3-0 ASUN Weekend
3/19/2023 10:19:39 PM | Men's Tennis
Spring Break ended for the Flames with all smiles, as Liberty took down the Lipscomb Bisons 7-0 on the road at Vanderbilt’s Lummis Family Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The Flames continue their dominance over Lipscomb, improving to 5-0 versus the program.
Liberty (9-8, 4-0 ASUN) took two doubles matches over Lipscomb (4-9, 1-1 ASUN) on courts two and three on Sunday night and did not look back. The Flames flexed their lineup’s strengths with six singles wins to earn the sweep over the Bisons.
The Flames improve to 4-0 in the ASUN, and with four more conference matches remaining, they are halfway to another undefeated ASUN season. Liberty last achieved the feat in 2021, with going 6-0 in conference.
Liberty head coach Derek Schwandt has dominated the ASUN since arriving at Liberty. Under Schwandt, the Flames are 22-3 in the regular season along with the last two ASUN Championship titles.
#66 Liberty 7, Lipscomb 0
Singles Competition
- Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Maksim Bogdanovich (LIP) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
- R. Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) def. Henrique Ushizima (LIP) 6-2, 6-2
- Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) def. Jake Penny (LIP) 6-2, 6-4
- Beau Pelletier (LIBERTYM) def. Vikash Singh (LIP) 6-3, 6-0
- Luis Felipe Miguel (LIBERTYM) def. Carlos Salas Tulla (LIP) 6-2, 6-1
- Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) def. Luka Stojanovic (LIP) 6-1, retired
Doubles Competition
- Maksim Bogdanovich/Luka Stojanovic (LIP) vs. Luis Felipe Miguel/Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) 3-5, unfinished
- R. Marques Da Silva/Beau Pelletier (LIBERTYM) def. Jake Penny/Carlos Salas Tulla (LIP) 6-2
- Zion Heaven/Josh Wilson (LIBERTYM) def. Vikash Singh/Henrique Ushizima (LIP) 6-1
Liberty 9-8, 4-0 ASUN; National ranking #66
Lipscomb 4-9, 1-1 ASUN
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,2,4,3,1,6)
T-2:32 A-43
How It Happened
• The Flames got out to a quick start by initially getting the doubles win on court three. Liberty’s Zion Heaven and Josh Wilson were paired for the first time this spring, and the two took care of Vikash Singh and Henrique Ushizima 6-1.
• Liberty clinched the doubles point on court two, as Rafael Marques Da Silva and Beau Pelletier (3-1) cruised to the victory over Jake Penny and Carlos Salas Tulla 6-2.
• The Flames collected their first singles point via court five. Freshman Luis Felipe Miguel knocked out Tulla 6-2, 6-1. Miguel has been a vital piece of Liberty’s season, boasting a 10-5 record this spring.
• Liberty grabbed its next win to seize a 3-0 lead with Marques Da Silva (4-5) handling Ushizima 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles contest.
• The Flames secured the match clinching fourth point on court four. Beau Pelletier (7-5) earned his fourth straight victory, topping Singh 6-3, 6-0.
• Liberty added a fifth win with Deji Thomas-Smith (6-8) snagging his third straight win while taking down Penny 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 3 slot.
• The most competitive match was played on court one, with Liberty’s Wilson battling the Bisons’ Maksim Bogdanovich. Wilson took the first set 6-1 before Bogdanovich responded with a 6-2 second set. The Liberty senior ultimately took the set and the sixth match point with a final score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
• The final match of the day took place on court six. Thando Longwe-Smit earned the seventh point and the sweep for the Flames with his defeat of Luka Stojanovic. Stojanovic retired before the start of the second set after dropping the first set by a 6-1 count to Longwe-Smit.
Next Up
• The Flames are set to host two ASUN opponents in Lynchburg this weekend. Liberty will see North Alabama (4-6, 0-1 ASUN) on Friday at 3 p.m. and Jacksonville State (9-6, 1-0), Sunday at 2 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
• Liberty is currently 4-0 all-time against North Alabama and 2-1 versus JSU.
Main Photo at Top of Story: Deji Thomas-Smith
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,2,4,3,1,6