Arraez, Sparks to Compete at ITA Sectional Championships

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty Tennis' Rodrigo Santiago Arraez and Benjamin Sparks are set to participate in the ITA Sectional Championships beginning on Thursday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Flames are sending competitors to the event for the first time in Liberty program history.

Arraez qualified for the tournament with a 7-5 record, including participating at the ITA All-American Championships. The junior won six consecutive singles matches this fall, including a 3-1 record at the ITA Atlantic Regional.

Sparks exploded on the scene as a redshirt freshman this fall. Sparks sports a 9-3 singles record with a breakout performance at the ITA Atlantic Regional. The redshirt freshman began the event in the qualifying round and won five straight matches to reach the semifinal round of the event. His finish as a semifinalist granted him qualifications for the sectional championships.

Both Liberty athletes will compete against players from the host site of the event, North Carolina. Arraez is matched up against UNC's Niels Ratiu, while Sparks will take on the Tar Heels' Roan Jones.

The ITA Sectional Championships consist of top performers from the ITA Atlantic, Carolina, New England and Northeast regions. Only players and doubles teams who have yet to earn entry into the NCAA Championships and have made deep runs at the ITA All-American or ITA Regional Championships will be eligible for participation. The top six singles finishers and top three doubles pairs from each sectional will qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships in Orlando, Fla., beginning on Nov. 11.

Schedule

Arraez, Sparks to Compete at ITA Sectional Championships

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Players Mentioned

Rodrigo Santiago Arraez

Benjamin Sparks