No. 2 Flames Ready to Host CUSA Championships, Open Against No. 3 Jacksonville State

LYNCHBURG, Va. – With just two victories from an NCAA Men's Tennis Championship appearance, No. 2 seed Liberty (10-12) prepares to face No. 3 Jacksonville State (12-6) in the semifinal round of the 2025 Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Lynchburg, Va. and the Liberty Tennis Complex serves as the host site for both the 2025 CUSA Women's and Men's Tennis Championship (April 16-20).

The Flames closed the season with a pair of momentous home victories over Delaware (4-3 final) and VCU (7-0 final). Liberty's triumph over the Rams was the first in program history after eight winless matchups.

Last season, the Flames finished the year as runners-up in the 2024 CUSA Championship, falling 4-2 to No. 1 seed and tournament host Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders return to the CUSA Championship as the No. 1 seed.

Spring Season Team Leaders & Stats
Singles Wins – Rodrigo Santiago Arraez – 14-6
Team Singles Record – 59-59
No. 1 Singles (individual) – Joaquim Almeida – 2-5                         No. 1 Singles (team) – 9-12
No. 2 Singles (individual) – Carl Roothman – 7-9                                          No. 2 Singles (team) – 10-11
No. 3 Singles (individual) – Siwanat Auytayakul – 4-9                                  No. 3 Singles (team) – 8-10
No. 4 Singles (individual) – Rodrigo Santiago Arraez – 9-4 No. 4 singles (team) – 12-8
No. 5 singles (individual) – Chase Robinson – 7-3                            No. 5 singles (team) – 12-8
No. 6 singles (individual) – Matija Samardzic – 4-4                           No. 6 singles (team) – 8-10

Team Doubles Record – 25-27
Doubles Point Record – 10-12
Record when Winning Doubles Point – 8-2
Record when Losing Doubles Point – 2-10
Doubles Wins (individual) – Joaquim Almeida, Siwanat Auytayakul – 10-6
Doubles Wins (team) – Joaquim Almeida/Siwanat Auytayakul – 10-4
No. 1 doubles (pair) – Joaquim Almeida/Siwanat Auytayakul – 10-4 No. 1 doubles (team) – 11-6
No. 2 doubles (pair) – Ernst Gouws/Carl Roothman – 2-3                               No. 2 doubles (team) – 5-12
No. 3 doubles (pair) – Ernst Gouws/Matija Samardzic – 4-1                No. 3 doubles (team) –9-9

Flames News & Notes

Liberty was tasked with replacing the production of five departing athletes. The team supplemented the roster with three additions via transfer, Joaquim Almeida (VCU), Carl Roothman (Okla. State) and Trey Stinchcomb (Clemson) and true freshman Siwanat Auytayakul.
Newcomers have contributed to 24 of Liberty's 59 singles victories (0.407 percent) this season.
Liberty's No. 1 doubles pair of Joaquim Almeida and Siwanat Auytayakul were awarded the CUSA Doubles Pair of the Week award on Tuesday. It was the second of the honor for the Flames and the third player of the week recognition.
The Flames' No. 3 doubles duo of Matija Samardzic and Ernst Gouws was emphasized late in the season. The two have collected a 2-1 record since April 4.

Schedule

No. 2 Flames Ready to Host CUSA Championships, Open Against No. 3 Jacksonville State

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Players Mentioned

Joaquim Almeida

Siwanat Auytayakul

Ernst Gouws

Chase Robinson

Carl Roothman

Matija Samardzic

Rodrigo Santiago Arraez

Trey Stinchcomb