Liberty University
Jacksonville State
Liberty Comes Back From Down 3-0 to Drop Jacksonville State 4-3, Sunday
3/26/2023 3:19:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Lady Flames used a big comeback from down 3-0 to defeat the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 4-3 at home, Sunday.
With the match tied at 3-all, Liberty sophomore Maria Juliana Parra Romero delivered a three-set comeback win (4-6, 6-4, 6-4) over JSU's Serafima Shastova in the No. 1 singles contest.
The Lady Flames improve to 12-6 overall and 3-1 against ASUN opponents this spring. Liberty hands JSU its first loss in league play this season. The Gamecocks fall to 14-4 and 4-1 in the ASUN. It was the second win of the weekend for Liberty after defeating North Alabama 5-2 on Friday.
The Lady Flames dropped the doubles point, falling in a tiebreak in the No. 1 doubles match. JSU added the next two singles matches by taking wins on court two and three. Liberty would respond with wins in the No. 2 and 3 singles matches to narrow the lead to 3-2. The final two matches on courts one (Maria Juliana Parra Romero) and four (Tiffany Nguyen) each went to a third set after both Lady Flames fell in the first set.
Liberty is now 9-2 playing at home and is 2-0 all-time against JSU.
The Lady Flames flip the script from last Sunday after they fell 4-3 in their road match at Lipscomb after initially going up 3-0.
Thoughts from Liberty Head Coach Jeff Maren
"JSU is a great team, and we had to be mentally tough in order to get through this one. The girls dug deep and found the intestinal fortitude to win the key points. To God be the glory!"
Thoughts From Tiffany Nguyen
"When things start getting tough, legs are sore and your body is tired and you aren't able to play your best tennis anymore, I ask myself, "Tiff, are you deep end certified?" And if I can answer that question with a 'yes', I take her to the deep end. At that point, it is all mental."
Liberty 4, Jacksonville State 3
Singles Competition
- M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) def. Serafima Shastova (JSUW) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Romane Mosse (JSUW) 6-2, 6-1
- Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) def. Anna Syrova (JSUW) 6-4, 6-3
- Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) def. Polina Ramenskaja (JSUW) 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
- Dariana Prato (JSUW) def. Elsa Kirch (LIBERTYW) 6-1, 6-1
- Zuzana Pavelekova (JSUW) def. Maretha Burger (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Competition
- Serafima Shastova/Romane Mosse (JSUW) def. M. Juliana P. Romero/Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) 7-6 (7-4)
- Zuzana Pavelekova/Anna Syrova (JSUW) def. Maretha Burger/Bruna Sampaio (LIBERTYW) 6-4
- Esther Lovato/Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) def. Polina Ramenskaja/Irene Artigas (JSUW) 6-1
Liberty 12-6, 3-1 ASUN
Jacksonville State 14-4, 4-1 ASUN
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,2,3,4,1)
Official: K Zimmerman/M Sarver T-3:41
How It Happened
• The Lady Flames jumped out to a quick start by winning the first doubles match in dominating fashion on court three. Esther Lovato and Marina Davtyan (7-1) rolled past Polina Ramenskaja and Irene Artigas, just dropping one game to earn a 6-1 result.
• Jacksonville State clinched the crucial doubles in a tiebreak in the No. 1 match. Maria Juliana Parra Romero and Tiffany Nguyen (2-1) were edged by Serfaima Shastova and Romane Mosse, with JSU needing a comeback after falling 5-3 in the set. The final score of the set was 7-6 (4) in favor of the Gamecocks' duo.
• JSU earned its first singles point to go up 2-0 on court five with Liberty's Elsa Kirch losing to Dariana Prato 6-1, 6-1. The Gamecocks picked up their third point in the No. 6 singles match, with Maretha Burger falling 6-3, 6-1 to Zuzana Pavelkova.
• Liberty got on the board thanks to Lovato (13-2) taking down Mosse 6-4, 6-3 on court two. The win for Lovato is her 91st triumph as a Lady Flame, placing her just one shy of the program record set at 92 by Evangeline Crist (2015-18). The junior could secure the record at home next week with the Lady Flames hosting two matches against Queens (Wednesday) and Furman (Friday)
• Liberty narrowed the lead to 3-2 in the No. 3 singles match with Davtyan (10-3) defeating Anna Syrova in an intense match with a 6-4, 6-3 outcome.
• Liberty tied the match at 3-3 on court four as Nguyen (12-3) fought back against Ramenskaja after falling in the first set. She trailed 6-5 in the second set and forced a tiebreak before coming out on top 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
• The final match came down to the No. 1 singles matchup of Parra Romero and Shastova. The sophomore lost the first set but answered right back to even the match. Parra Romero went up 4-2 before dropping consecutive games to go even at 4-4 before sealing the deal with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 final score.
Next Up
• Liberty comes back to action next week for a set of two more home matchups. The Lady Flames will square off with Queens (5-12, 0-3 ASUN), Wednesday at 2 p.m. Liberty will meet Furman on Friday at 10 a.m. Both matches will be played at the Liberty Tennis Complex.
• Wednesday's contest against the Queen Royals will be Senior Day for the Liberty women's tennis program. Prior to the match, the program will honor seniors Micaela Ode Mitre and Alexandra Almborg.
• The match against Queens will be the fifth ASUN matchup of the season. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,6,2,3,4,1
Players Mentioned
