Men’s Tennis Adds Ekpenyong to 2025-26 Roster
6/6/2025 3:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty men's tennis and head coach Derek Schwandt have announced the addition of David Ekpenyong as an addition via transfer to the 2025-26 roster.
A Nigerian native, Ekpenyong played two seasons at Our Lady of the Lake, an NAIA program in San Antonio, Texas. He helped lead the Saints to a 19-8 record and a quarterfinal finish at the NAIA National Championship last season. He will join the Flames as a junior.
"It is an honor and privilege to welcome David to the Flames family," said Schwandt. "David is a strong competitor and teammate. He will represent the Liberty mission at the highest level."
The Nigerian native is currently the No. 1 ranked player in the African nation (March 14). Ekpenyong carries a 12.30 UTR and a 14.7 WTN Singles number and an 11.9 doubles number.
Last year, the redshirt sophomore earned an impressive 26-5 singles record (15-2 spring) and a 24-4 doubles mark (16-2 spring). Ekpenyong held the No. 1 NAIA ranking (ITA) on March 13, holding an 8-1 record at the time. He finished the year ranked as the No. 2 singles athlete in the NAIA division and the No. 1 athlete in both singles and doubles (Joao Santos) in the NAIA Central region.
Ekpenyong was named to the 2024-25 NAIA Men's Tennis All-America second team. The freshman finished as the runner-up in the 2024 ITA Cup, finishing with a 3-1 record after falling 6-3, 6-3 against Santiago Villarruel. He topped the event's No. 1 seed Perry Gregg 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the tournament.
Liberty (11-13) looks to improve on a second consecutive finish as runners-up in the CUSA championship, falling to Middle Tennessee 4-0 on April 20 in the CUSA final.
A Nigerian native, Ekpenyong played two seasons at Our Lady of the Lake, an NAIA program in San Antonio, Texas. He helped lead the Saints to a 19-8 record and a quarterfinal finish at the NAIA National Championship last season. He will join the Flames as a junior.
"It is an honor and privilege to welcome David to the Flames family," said Schwandt. "David is a strong competitor and teammate. He will represent the Liberty mission at the highest level."
The Nigerian native is currently the No. 1 ranked player in the African nation (March 14). Ekpenyong carries a 12.30 UTR and a 14.7 WTN Singles number and an 11.9 doubles number.
Last year, the redshirt sophomore earned an impressive 26-5 singles record (15-2 spring) and a 24-4 doubles mark (16-2 spring). Ekpenyong held the No. 1 NAIA ranking (ITA) on March 13, holding an 8-1 record at the time. He finished the year ranked as the No. 2 singles athlete in the NAIA division and the No. 1 athlete in both singles and doubles (Joao Santos) in the NAIA Central region.
Ekpenyong was named to the 2024-25 NAIA Men's Tennis All-America second team. The freshman finished as the runner-up in the 2024 ITA Cup, finishing with a 3-1 record after falling 6-3, 6-3 against Santiago Villarruel. He topped the event's No. 1 seed Perry Gregg 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the tournament.
Liberty (11-13) looks to improve on a second consecutive finish as runners-up in the CUSA championship, falling to Middle Tennessee 4-0 on April 20 in the CUSA final.
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