No. 74 Flames Set to Host No. 65 Dartmouth, Travel to No. 49 Charlotte
2/22/2024 2:45:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The freshly minted No. 74 Liberty men's tennis team (ITA national rankings) prepares for a set of two challenging matches in three days. The Flames (7-3) host No. 65 Dartmouth (6-3) on Friday at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center with first serve set for 3 p.m. Liberty hits the road for No. 49 Charlotte (8-2) for a match at the Halton-Wagner Tennis Complex Sunday at 12 p.m.
The Flames are coming off a successful 2-0 weekend, dropping just two match points in wins over Penn State (4-0) Friday and Georgia State (5-2) on Sunday.
Deji Thomas-Smith (4-4 singles, 5-3 doubles) was awarded the Conference USA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week award for his 4-0 (2-0 doubles, 2-0 singles) performance this past weekend. The senior secured pivotal victories and two clinching matches including triumphs in the No.1 doubles and singles positions.
Liberty faces Dartmouth for the first time in program history on Friday. The Flames look to build on a 4-2 mark all-time against Charlotte. Liberty last met Charlotte in 2023, when the No. 72 Flames took down the No. 70 49ers 4-3.
Flames News & Notes
Opponents At-a-Glance
No. 65 Dartmouth
No. 49 Charlotte
The Flames are coming off a successful 2-0 weekend, dropping just two match points in wins over Penn State (4-0) Friday and Georgia State (5-2) on Sunday.
Deji Thomas-Smith (4-4 singles, 5-3 doubles) was awarded the Conference USA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week award for his 4-0 (2-0 doubles, 2-0 singles) performance this past weekend. The senior secured pivotal victories and two clinching matches including triumphs in the No.1 doubles and singles positions.
Liberty faces Dartmouth for the first time in program history on Friday. The Flames look to build on a 4-2 mark all-time against Charlotte. Liberty last met Charlotte in 2023, when the No. 72 Flames took down the No. 70 49ers 4-3.
Flames News & Notes
- Liberty owns a 5-1 mark at home and seeks to improve on a 2-2 road mark.
- The Flames have secured the doubles point in eight of their 10 matches in 2024. Liberty has leaned on the pair of Matija Samardzic and Luis Felipe Miguel who own a 7-1 record playing together.
- The Flames look for continued contributions from its freshmen. Rodrigo Santiago Arraez (6-0 singles) and Romeo Hadzimehmedovic (4-0 singles, 3-2 doubles) have combined for a 10-0 singles record. Each athlete is having the best start for a freshman to a spring season under head coach Derek Schwandt.
- The Flames have also leaned on redshirt freshman Chase Robinson (4-2 singles, 4-1 doubles) and true freshman Matija Samardzic (8-1 doubles, 5-4 singles).
Opponents At-a-Glance
No. 65 Dartmouth
- The No. 65 Dartmouth Big Green own a 6-3 record in 2024. Dartmouth has won key matches against Indiana, Purdue and Temple.
- Dartmouth owns a 3-5 record out of the No. 1 singles position with Carlos Guerrero Alvarez (2-5) receiving the majority of appearances.
- Miles Groom has an undefeated 6-0 mark in the No. 4 singles slot.
- The Big Green have a winning record from each of their doubles positions.
No. 49 Charlotte
- The No. 49 Charlotte 49ers own an 8-2 record including a similar 5-2 victory to the Flames over Georgia State (Feb. 9)
- Charlotte has secured a 3-6 record out of its No. 1 singles position. Four 49ers have made multiple appearances in the No.1 slot.
- Coy Simon has earned an 8-1 singles record including a 4-0 record in the No. 6 singles slot.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 09
Saturday, April 04
Saturday, January 24