Friday, March 28
Lynchburg, Va.
3:00 PM ET
Liberty University
5
vs
2
No. 70 FAU
Flames Earn Momentous 5-2 Triumph Over No. 70 FAU
3/28/2025 9:01:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty dominated the singles round to earn a 5-2 home triumph over No. 70 Florida Atlantic on Friday evening. The Owls secured the doubles point but the Flames roared back, securing five of six singles matches.
The Owls secured the doubles point with swift victories on courts two (6-0) and three (6-2). In their first match paired together, Joaquim Almeida and Siwanat Auytayakul were leading 5-2 on court two when the doubles point was clinched.
Liberty answered with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory from Rodrigo Santiago Arraez in the No. 4 singles match. FAU evened the match with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1 triumph over Robinson in the No. 5 singles match.
The Flames secured the remaining four singles matches for the 5-2 match win. Almeida earned a ranked win over No. 125 John Bernard with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory. Matija Samardzic fought to a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory on court six and Carl Roothman grabbed a 7-5, 6-4 win on court two.
The final match of the night was found in the No. 3 singles match between Auytayakul and Segundo Goity Zapico. The Flames' freshman breezed through the first set but his counterpart fought to a 7-5 second set win. Auyatakul built up a 5-3 lead in the third set but Zapico battled back to force a tiebreaker. The two went back-and-forth with Auytayakul eventually securing the hard-fought. 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (7) triumph.
The Flames earn a second consecutive triumph after besting the Owls 4-3 last season on the road. Liberty gains the advantage in the all-time series, now 3-2 all-time against FAU.
Up Next
The Flames return to action against another ranked team from Florida, taking on No. 24 South Florida on Sunday. The match begins at 1 p.m. from the Liberty Tennis Complex with all matches streamed via Swing Vision and court one coverage on ESPN+.
The Owls secured the doubles point with swift victories on courts two (6-0) and three (6-2). In their first match paired together, Joaquim Almeida and Siwanat Auytayakul were leading 5-2 on court two when the doubles point was clinched.
Liberty answered with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory from Rodrigo Santiago Arraez in the No. 4 singles match. FAU evened the match with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1 triumph over Robinson in the No. 5 singles match.
The Flames secured the remaining four singles matches for the 5-2 match win. Almeida earned a ranked win over No. 125 John Bernard with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory. Matija Samardzic fought to a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory on court six and Carl Roothman grabbed a 7-5, 6-4 win on court two.
The final match of the night was found in the No. 3 singles match between Auytayakul and Segundo Goity Zapico. The Flames' freshman breezed through the first set but his counterpart fought to a 7-5 second set win. Auyatakul built up a 5-3 lead in the third set but Zapico battled back to force a tiebreaker. The two went back-and-forth with Auytayakul eventually securing the hard-fought. 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (7) triumph.
The Flames earn a second consecutive triumph after besting the Owls 4-3 last season on the road. Liberty gains the advantage in the all-time series, now 3-2 all-time against FAU.
Liberty 5, #70 Florida Atlantic 2
Singles Competition
1. Joaquim Almeida (LIBERTYM) def. #125 John Bernard (FAU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
2. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) def. Mark Havlicek (FAU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) def. Segundo Goity Zapico (FAU) 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7)
4. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Jan Kusy (FAU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Simon Myslivec (FAU) def. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1
6. Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) def. Marek Pazdera (FAU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles Competition
1. #53 Joaquim Almeida/Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) vs. Jiri Jenicek/Simon Myslivec (FAU) 5-2, unfinished
2. Mark Havlicek/Marek Pazdera (FAU) def. Matija Samardzic/Ernst Gouws (LIBERTYM) 6-0
3. John Bernard/Lucca Pignaton (FAU) def. Chase Robinson/Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) 6-2
Florida Atlantic 8-8; National ranking #70
Liberty 7-10
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,6,2,1,5,3)
Up Next
The Flames return to action against another ranked team from Florida, taking on No. 24 South Florida on Sunday. The match begins at 1 p.m. from the Liberty Tennis Complex with all matches streamed via Swing Vision and court one coverage on ESPN+.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
123
John Bernard / 0 (125/-) [FAU]
064
636
#2 Singles Match
12
Mark Havlicek / 0 [FAU]
54
76
#3 Singles Match
123
Segundo Goity Zapico / 0 [FAU]
076
657
#4 Singles Match
12
Jan Kusy / 0 [FAU]
13
66
#5 Singles Match
123
Simon Myslivec / 0 [FAU]
736
661
#6 Singles Match
12
Marek Pazdera / 0 [FAU]
46
67
Order of Finish:
4,6,2,1,5,3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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