
Liberty Sweeps VCU 7-0 for First-Ever Victory over Rams
4/13/2025 5:11:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames tennis team (10-12) secured its first-ever triumph over VCU (5-11), sweeping the Rams 7-0 at home to close out the regular season on Sunday afternoon. The Flames win its first match against the Rams after going winless in the last eight meetings.
The team honored its two seniors, Joaquim Almeida and Trey Stinchcomb, in a pre-game Senior Day Ceremony.
Liberty played a strong doubles point, grabbing victories on courts three and one. The Flames were also leading on court two when the point was secured.
VCU was forced to retire on court five due to an injury, putting the Flames up 2-0. Siwanat Auytayakul grabbed Liberty's first match win with a 7-5, 6-1 victory. After being tied at 5-5 in the first set, the freshman won seven consecutive games before grabbing the triumph.
Liberty secured the match-winning fourth point thanks to Rodrigo Santiago Arraez topping Leon Zaorski 6-3, 6-4 in the No. 4 singles match. Arraez finishes the regular season with a seven-match singles winning streak and a 14-6 singles mark in the spring.
The remaining three matches all reached a third set. Carl Roothman dominated the third set on court two to win 6-2, 4-6. 6-0. Almeida on court one and Samarzic on court six both won in third set super tiebreakers.
Liberty improved to 5-4 at home this season with the victory.
Lynchburg, Va. and the Liberty Tennis Complex serves as the host site for next week's CUSA Men's and Women's Tennis Championship. The Men's Tennis Championship begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. All matches will be streamed live on ESPN+
Liberty 7, VCU 0
Singles Competition
1. Joaquim Almeida (LIBERTYM) def. German Samofalov (VCU-M) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6)
2. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) def. Nicolo Consonni (VCU-M) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
3. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) def. Alfred Almasi (VCU-M) 7-5, 6-1
4. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Leon Zaorski (VCU-M) 6-3, 6-4
5. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) def. Kostiantyn Mantach (VCU-M) 5-1, retired
6. Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) def. Gevorg Mnatsakanyan (VCU-M) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
Doubles Competition
1. #67 Joaquim Almeida/Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) def. German Samofalov/Kostiantyn Mantach (VCU-M) 6-2
2. Carl Roothman/Trey Stinchcomb (LIBERTYM) vs. Nicolo Consonni/Gevorg Mnatsakanyan (VCU-M) 5-4, unfinished
3. Ernst Gouws/Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) def. Alfred Almasi/Leon Zaorski (VCU-M) 6-3
VCU 9-11
Liberty 10-12
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,3,4,1,2,6)
Flames News & Notes
Up Next
Liberty (10-12) awaits the seeding announcement for the CUSA Men's Tennis Championship. The Flames' first match will be on either Friday at 1 p.m. or Saturday at 1 p.m.
The team honored its two seniors, Joaquim Almeida and Trey Stinchcomb, in a pre-game Senior Day Ceremony.
Liberty played a strong doubles point, grabbing victories on courts three and one. The Flames were also leading on court two when the point was secured.
VCU was forced to retire on court five due to an injury, putting the Flames up 2-0. Siwanat Auytayakul grabbed Liberty's first match win with a 7-5, 6-1 victory. After being tied at 5-5 in the first set, the freshman won seven consecutive games before grabbing the triumph.
Liberty secured the match-winning fourth point thanks to Rodrigo Santiago Arraez topping Leon Zaorski 6-3, 6-4 in the No. 4 singles match. Arraez finishes the regular season with a seven-match singles winning streak and a 14-6 singles mark in the spring.
The remaining three matches all reached a third set. Carl Roothman dominated the third set on court two to win 6-2, 4-6. 6-0. Almeida on court one and Samarzic on court six both won in third set super tiebreakers.
Liberty improved to 5-4 at home this season with the victory.
Lynchburg, Va. and the Liberty Tennis Complex serves as the host site for next week's CUSA Men's and Women's Tennis Championship. The Men's Tennis Championship begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. All matches will be streamed live on ESPN+
Liberty 7, VCU 0
Singles Competition
1. Joaquim Almeida (LIBERTYM) def. German Samofalov (VCU-M) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6)
2. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) def. Nicolo Consonni (VCU-M) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
3. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) def. Alfred Almasi (VCU-M) 7-5, 6-1
4. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Leon Zaorski (VCU-M) 6-3, 6-4
5. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) def. Kostiantyn Mantach (VCU-M) 5-1, retired
6. Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) def. Gevorg Mnatsakanyan (VCU-M) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
Doubles Competition
1. #67 Joaquim Almeida/Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) def. German Samofalov/Kostiantyn Mantach (VCU-M) 6-2
2. Carl Roothman/Trey Stinchcomb (LIBERTYM) vs. Nicolo Consonni/Gevorg Mnatsakanyan (VCU-M) 5-4, unfinished
3. Ernst Gouws/Matija Samardzic (LIBERTYM) def. Alfred Almasi/Leon Zaorski (VCU-M) 6-3
VCU 9-11
Liberty 10-12
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,3,4,1,2,6)
Flames News & Notes
- Liberty's No. 1 doubles pair of No. 67 Almeida and Auytayakul improved to 10-4 together this spring and 16-6 overall.
- With the retirement, Chase Robinson improved his singles winning streak to five matches.
- Arraez holds a 9-4 record at the No. 4 singles slot, the best of any position for any Flames this spring.
Up Next
Liberty (10-12) awaits the seeding announcement for the CUSA Men's Tennis Championship. The Flames' first match will be on either Friday at 1 p.m. or Saturday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
Order of Finish:
5,3,4,1,2,6
Players Mentioned
Coach Connell Talks About The Win Over KSU
Thursday, April 17
Joaquim Almeida Talks About The Upcoming CUSA Tournament
Tuesday, April 15
Daniella O'Neill Talks About The Upcoming CUSA Tournament
Tuesday, April 15
Joaquim Almeida: Finding the Lord and Liberty
Friday, April 11