Saturday, March 2
Tempe, Ariz.
3 PM ET/1 PM MT
Liberty University
3
vs
4
Boise State
No. 51 Flames Drop Close 4-3 Match to No. 58 Boise State
3/2/2024 9:54:00 PM | Men's Tennis
TEMPE, Ariz - The No. 51 Flames tennis team came up just short of No. 58 Boise State, falling 4-3 on Saturday at the Diablos College Invite in Tempe, Ariz.
Liberty (9-5) initially gave up an intense doubles point, coming down to a tiebreaker on court three. Boise State (7-8) grabbed a quick pair of singles points in the No. 6 and 4 singles matches to take a demanding 3-0 lead. The Flames made a strong push with three consecutive victories on courts two, one and three.
The deciding match came down to the No. 5 singles match between Thando Longwe-Smit and John Chin. A back-and-forth bout, the two traded blows exchanging sets 6-3 and 6-4. Chin ultimately pulled away in the third set, coming out on top 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Liberty drops a second straight match facing a foe it topped in 2023, losing 4-0 to No. 15 Michigan State on Friday. The Flames bested Boise State 4-1 in 2023.
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"The team battled hard today against a strong opponent. Champions respond. It will be a great opportunity for us to finish strong in Arizona tomorrow."
Up Next
Liberty (9-5) takes on Grand Canyon (2-8) at 9 am in the final day of the Diablos College Invite. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Liberty (9-5) initially gave up an intense doubles point, coming down to a tiebreaker on court three. Boise State (7-8) grabbed a quick pair of singles points in the No. 6 and 4 singles matches to take a demanding 3-0 lead. The Flames made a strong push with three consecutive victories on courts two, one and three.
The deciding match came down to the No. 5 singles match between Thando Longwe-Smit and John Chin. A back-and-forth bout, the two traded blows exchanging sets 6-3 and 6-4. Chin ultimately pulled away in the third set, coming out on top 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Liberty drops a second straight match facing a foe it topped in 2023, losing 4-0 to No. 15 Michigan State on Friday. The Flames bested Boise State 4-1 in 2023.
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"The team battled hard today against a strong opponent. Champions respond. It will be a great opportunity for us to finish strong in Arizona tomorrow."
#58 Boise State 4, #51 Liberty 3
Singles Competition
1. R Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) def. #43 Sam Sippel (BSU) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
2. Luis Felipe Miguel (LIBERTYM) def. Jip Van Assendelft (BSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
3. Deji Thomas-Smith (LIBERTYM) def. Jett Middleton (BSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
4. James Van Herzeele (BSU) def. R Hadzimehmedovic (LIBERTYM) 6-1, 7-5
5. John Chin (BSU) def. Thando Longwe-Smit (LIBERTYM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Idriss Haddouch (BSU) def. Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Sam Sippel/Jip Van Assendelft (BSU) def. Thando Longwe-Smit/R Marques Da Silva (LIBERTYM) 6-3
2. Luis Felipe Miguel/Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) def. Caden Moortgat/Jan Lucca Marquardt (BSU) 6-4
3. Idriss Haddouch/John Chin (BSU) def. Deji Thomas-Smith/Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) 7-6 (7-1)
Boise State 7-8; National ranking #58
Liberty 9-5; National ranking #51
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,2,1,3,5)
Up Next
Liberty (9-5) takes on Grand Canyon (2-8) at 9 am in the final day of the Diablos College Invite. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Sam Sippel / 0 (43/-) [BSU]
46
67
#2 Singles Match
123
Jip Van Assendelft / 0 [BSU]
461
636
#3 Singles Match
12
Jett Middleton / 0 [BSU]
64
76
#4 Singles Match
12
James Van Herzeele / 0 [BSU]
67
15
#5 Singles Match
123
John Chin / 0 [BSU]
366
643
#6 Singles Match
12
Idriss Haddouch / 0 [BSU]
76
53
Order of Finish:
6,4,2,1,3,5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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