Friday, March 27
Tampa, Fla.
1:30 PM ET
Liberty University
4
at
3
No. 74 USF
Men’s Tennis Tops No. 74 USF 4-3, Falls to FAU by Same Score in Florida Trip
3/28/2026 7:15:00 PM | Men's Tennis
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Liberty (9-9) had a mixed weekend, edging USF with a dramatic 4-3 victory on Friday before narrowly falling to FAU (8-10) with a final score of 3-4 on Saturday.
David Ekpenyong secured the match-winning point with an ace on Friday. The clincher marked the second instance this season that the Junior has secured a match point in a 3-3 match.
The Flames went 6-6 in singles this week and 3-3 in doubles. The winner of the doubles point in each contest went on to win the match.
No. 71 Liberty 4, No. 74 South Florida 3
Liberty clinched the doubles point against USF with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. The No. 3 doubles team of Guy Vorwerk and Rodrigo Santiago Arraez secured a 6-3 win against Elijah Cham and Timeo Gaillard, ensuring the doubles point for Liberty. USF's pair of James Newton and Toto Llanes took a 6-3 decision at No. 2 doubles over Chase Robinson and Siwanat Auytayakul. Liberty clinched the doubles point from the No. 1 doubles team of David Ekpenyong and Benjamin Sparks, besting Hugo Car and Ettore Danesi in a tight contest, 7-6 (5).
In singles play, The Bulls pulled ahead with triumphs on courts one and four. Hugo Car secured a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Auytayakul at No. 1 singles, and Agustin Cuellar defeated Carl Roothman, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 4 singles. Liberty evened the match from Sparks at No. 3 singles, overcoming Stepan Mruzek in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-1. The Bulls responded with a triumph from Elijah Cham at No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Arraez. Liberty tied the match at 3-3 on court six as Robinson defeated Timeo Gaillard at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1.
Ekpenyong clinched the overall match against Ettore Danesi in three sets at No. 5 singles. With the match on the line at 3-3, Ekpenyong stuck to his strengths on a deciding match point, up 5-4, serving up an ace down the middle for the 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 triumph.
Singles Competition
1. Hugo Car (USFM) def. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) 6-2, 6-2
2. Elijah Cham (USFM) def. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 6-2
3. Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) def. Stepan Mruzek (USFM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
4. Agustin Cuellar (USFM) def. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-2
5. David Ekpenyong (LIBERTYM) def. Ettore Danesi (USFM) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
6. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) def. Timeo Gaillard (USFM) 6-3, 1-0, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. David Ekpenyong/Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) def. Hugo Car/Ettore Danesi (USFM) 7-6 (7-5)
2. James Newton/Toto Llanes (USFM) def. Chase Robinson/Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) 6-3
3. Guy Vorwerk/R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Elijah Cham/Timeo Gaillard (USFM) 6-3
Liberty 9-8; National ranking #71
South Florida 5-13; National ranking #74
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,4,3,2,6,5)
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"Thank You Father for your favor and strength that sustains us. We have an awesome opportunity to regroup and fight tomorrow."
Florida Atlantic 4, No. 71 Liberty 3
Against Florida Atlantic, the Owls secured the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Mark Havlicek and Marek Pazdera captured a 6-4 victory over Ekpenyong and Sparks at No. 1 doubles. Liberty earned a win at No. 3 doubles, where Arraez and Vorwerk defeated Lucca Acioly and Simon Myslivec, 6-3. The Owls' Vanja Hodzic and Lucca Pignaton sealed the point with a 6-4 win against Auytayakul and Robinson at No. 2 doubles.
In singles, Liberty responded with strong performances. Arraez started the momentum with a straight-sets win on court three, defeating Myslivec 6-2, 6-2. The Owls then extended their lead with Pazdera's 6-2, 6-4 victory over Sparks at No. 2 singles and Havlicek's 6-3, 6-2 win against Auytayakul at No. 1 singles. Liberty continued to fight back, with Ekpenyong earning a hard-fought 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 victory over Pignaton on court five. Jan Kusy clinched the match for FAU with a three-set win at No. 4 singles, defeating Roothman 6-1, 5-7, 6-1.
Robinson secured a final point for Liberty at No. 6 singles, prevailing 7-6 (9), 6-4 over Luca Miremont, resulting in a final score of 4-3 in favor of the Owls.
Singles Competition
1. Mark Havlicek (FAU) def. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Marek Pazdera (FAU) def. Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) 6-2, 6-4
3. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Simon Myslevic (FAU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Jan Kusy (FAU) def. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
5. David Ekpenyong (LIBERTYM) def. Lucca Pignaton (FAU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
6. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) def. Luca Miremont (FAU) 7-6 (11-9), 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Mark Havlicek/Marek Pazdera (FAU) def. David Ekpenyong/Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) 6-4
2. Vanja Hodzic/Lucca Pignaton (FAU) def. Siwanat Auytayakul/Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) 6-4
3. R Santiago Arraez/Guy Vorwerk (LIBERTYM) def. Lucca Acioly/Simon Myslevic (FAU) 6-3
Liberty 9-9; National ranking #71
Florida Atlantic 8-10
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,1,5,4,6)
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"The team stayed together with solid unity and fought hard all the way through. We are thankful for the opportunity to play a tough opponent and keep working smart."
Flames News & Notes
Up Next
No. 71 Liberty (9-9) hosts No. 56 Old Dominion (14-5) on Thursday at 3 p.m. in a matchup of ranked opponents. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.
David Ekpenyong secured the match-winning point with an ace on Friday. The clincher marked the second instance this season that the Junior has secured a match point in a 3-3 match.
The Flames went 6-6 in singles this week and 3-3 in doubles. The winner of the doubles point in each contest went on to win the match.
No. 71 Liberty 4, No. 74 South Florida 3
Liberty clinched the doubles point against USF with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. The No. 3 doubles team of Guy Vorwerk and Rodrigo Santiago Arraez secured a 6-3 win against Elijah Cham and Timeo Gaillard, ensuring the doubles point for Liberty. USF's pair of James Newton and Toto Llanes took a 6-3 decision at No. 2 doubles over Chase Robinson and Siwanat Auytayakul. Liberty clinched the doubles point from the No. 1 doubles team of David Ekpenyong and Benjamin Sparks, besting Hugo Car and Ettore Danesi in a tight contest, 7-6 (5).
In singles play, The Bulls pulled ahead with triumphs on courts one and four. Hugo Car secured a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Auytayakul at No. 1 singles, and Agustin Cuellar defeated Carl Roothman, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 4 singles. Liberty evened the match from Sparks at No. 3 singles, overcoming Stepan Mruzek in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-1. The Bulls responded with a triumph from Elijah Cham at No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Arraez. Liberty tied the match at 3-3 on court six as Robinson defeated Timeo Gaillard at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1.
Ekpenyong clinched the overall match against Ettore Danesi in three sets at No. 5 singles. With the match on the line at 3-3, Ekpenyong stuck to his strengths on a deciding match point, up 5-4, serving up an ace down the middle for the 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 triumph.
Singles Competition
1. Hugo Car (USFM) def. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) 6-2, 6-2
2. Elijah Cham (USFM) def. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) 6-4, 6-2
3. Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) def. Stepan Mruzek (USFM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
4. Agustin Cuellar (USFM) def. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-2
5. David Ekpenyong (LIBERTYM) def. Ettore Danesi (USFM) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
6. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) def. Timeo Gaillard (USFM) 6-3, 1-0, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. David Ekpenyong/Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) def. Hugo Car/Ettore Danesi (USFM) 7-6 (7-5)
2. James Newton/Toto Llanes (USFM) def. Chase Robinson/Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) 6-3
3. Guy Vorwerk/R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Elijah Cham/Timeo Gaillard (USFM) 6-3
Liberty 9-8; National ranking #71
South Florida 5-13; National ranking #74
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,4,3,2,6,5)
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"Thank You Father for your favor and strength that sustains us. We have an awesome opportunity to regroup and fight tomorrow."
Florida Atlantic 4, No. 71 Liberty 3
Against Florida Atlantic, the Owls secured the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Mark Havlicek and Marek Pazdera captured a 6-4 victory over Ekpenyong and Sparks at No. 1 doubles. Liberty earned a win at No. 3 doubles, where Arraez and Vorwerk defeated Lucca Acioly and Simon Myslivec, 6-3. The Owls' Vanja Hodzic and Lucca Pignaton sealed the point with a 6-4 win against Auytayakul and Robinson at No. 2 doubles.
In singles, Liberty responded with strong performances. Arraez started the momentum with a straight-sets win on court three, defeating Myslivec 6-2, 6-2. The Owls then extended their lead with Pazdera's 6-2, 6-4 victory over Sparks at No. 2 singles and Havlicek's 6-3, 6-2 win against Auytayakul at No. 1 singles. Liberty continued to fight back, with Ekpenyong earning a hard-fought 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 victory over Pignaton on court five. Jan Kusy clinched the match for FAU with a three-set win at No. 4 singles, defeating Roothman 6-1, 5-7, 6-1.
Robinson secured a final point for Liberty at No. 6 singles, prevailing 7-6 (9), 6-4 over Luca Miremont, resulting in a final score of 4-3 in favor of the Owls.
Singles Competition
1. Mark Havlicek (FAU) def. Siwanat Auytayakul (LIBERTYM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Marek Pazdera (FAU) def. Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) 6-2, 6-4
3. R Santiago Arraez (LIBERTYM) def. Simon Myslevic (FAU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Jan Kusy (FAU) def. Carl Roothman (LIBERTYM) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
5. David Ekpenyong (LIBERTYM) def. Lucca Pignaton (FAU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
6. Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) def. Luca Miremont (FAU) 7-6 (11-9), 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Mark Havlicek/Marek Pazdera (FAU) def. David Ekpenyong/Benjamin Sparks (LIBERTYM) 6-4
2. Vanja Hodzic/Lucca Pignaton (FAU) def. Siwanat Auytayakul/Chase Robinson (LIBERTYM) 6-4
3. R Santiago Arraez/Guy Vorwerk (LIBERTYM) def. Lucca Acioly/Simon Myslevic (FAU) 6-3
Liberty 9-9; National ranking #71
Florida Atlantic 8-10
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,1,5,4,6)
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Schwandt
"The team stayed together with solid unity and fought hard all the way through. We are thankful for the opportunity to play a tough opponent and keep working smart."
Flames News & Notes
- The Flames are now 52-49 (.515) collectively in singles and 25-19 (.568) as a team in doubles.
- Ekpenyong (8-6) made a loud return to the singles lineup with two victories over the weekend in the No. 5 slot.
- Robinson was the only other Flame to go 2-0 in singles, playing in the No. 6 position. The redshirt junior leads the team with an 11-5 singles record.
- Liberty now sports a 10-6 record at No. 2 doubles and a 10-4 mark in the No. 3 slot.
- Arraez and Vorwerk (10-3) own the most triumphs as a pairing.
Up Next
No. 71 Liberty (9-9) hosts No. 56 Old Dominion (14-5) on Thursday at 3 p.m. in a matchup of ranked opponents. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
12
22
Hugo Car / 0 [USFM]
66
#2 Singles Match
12
42
Elijah Cham / 0 [USFM]
66
#3 Singles Match
12
76
Stepan Mruzek / 0 [USFM]
61
#4 Singles Match
12
32
Agustin Cuellar / 0 [USFM]
66
#5 Singles Match
123
566
Ettore Danesi / 0 [USFM]
714
#6 Singles Match
123
636
Timeo Gaillard / 0 [USFM]
361
Order of Finish:
1,4,3,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Coach Connell Talks About The Win Over Delaware
Saturday, January 24
Chase Robinson Talks About The Start Of The Men's Tennis Season
Wednesday, January 14
Daniella O'Neill Garcia Talks About The Start Of The Women's Tennis Season
Tuesday, January 13
Coach Connell Talks About The Win Over KSU
Thursday, April 17