Liberty Earns 4-2 Road Win at USF, Saturday

Liberty continued its winning ways, earning a 4-2 road win at South Florida on Saturday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.

The Lady Flames run their winning streak to five matches, a streak that started with a win over Richmond on Feb. 6. Liberty bolsters its record to 7-3 on the season. This is Liberty’s first-ever victory over USF in what was the third all-time between the two schools.

South Florida slips to 1-6 on 2022 and has lost six straight. The Lady Flames close out the weekend with a 2-0 record after they also defeated North Texas 4-1 yesterday in a neutral site match in the Sunshine State.

Thoughts From Head Coach Jeff Maren

“I’m so happy with the resiliency and fight that our team showed. We played as one unit all weekend and believed in each other and ourselves. We can’t wait for our next match. To God be the glory!”

Liberty 4, South Florida 2

Singles Competition

1. M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) def. Grace Schumacher (USF) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Sierra Berry (USF) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) 6-0, 6-1
3. Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) def. Laura Pellicer (USF) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Amelie Boy (USF) 6-1, 6-3
5. Margriet Timmermans (USF) vs. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) 7-6 (8-6), 6-6 (1-4), unfinished
6. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) def. Kiana Mokhtari (USF) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles Competition

1. Amelie Boy/Sierra Berry (USF) def. Tiffany Nguyen/Maretha Burger (LIBERTYW) 6-4
2. Grace Schumacher/Margriet Timmermans (USF) vs. Micaela Ode Mitre/M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) 5-5, unfinished
3. Kiana Mokhtari/Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Esther Lovato/Willa Rogers (LIBERTYW) 6-2

Liberty 7-3

South Florida 1-6

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,6,4,3,1)

T-3:00

How It Happened

• The Lady Flames dropped the doubles point for the first time in five matches. The Bulls’ Kiani Moktari and Laura Pellicer (No. 3 doubles) jumpstarted the hosts with a 6-2 decision over Liberty’s Esther Lovato and Willa Rogers.

• South Florida clinched the doubles point and took a 1-0 lead after Amelie Boy and Sierra Berry upended Tiffany Nguyen and Maretha Burger of the Lady Flames 6-4 on court one.

• Liberty shook off its setback in the doubles session by winning four of the five completed singles matches to pick up the 4-2 victory.

• USF jumped ahead 2-0 with its only singles victory, coming from Berry over Almborg (6-0, 6-1) in the No. 2 match.

• The Lady Flames’ Micaela Ode Mitre earned her third straight singles win in the No. 6 position, putting the visitors on the scoreboard with her 6-1, 6-2 result over Mokhtari.

• Liberty’s Lovato evened the match at 2-all with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Boy on court four. Lovato now sports a 6-2 mark this spring and has captured four straight matches.

• Playing in the No. 3 slot for a second consecutive day, Lady Flames sophomore Eloise Saraty delivered the go-ahead point. She bested Pellicer in comeback fashion, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to provide Liberty its first lead of the day, 3-2.

• For the second straight day, it was the Lady Flames’ Parra Romero who clinched the match. The Liberty freshman ran her winning streak to six matches and improved to 7-1 overall after a 6-3, 7-6 (4) result over Grace Schumacher of the Bulls.

• The Lady Flames’ five-match winning streak is its best since starting the 2021 season with six straight triumphs.

• During Liberty’s current winning streak, the Lady Flames have outscored their counterparts 23-4.

Next Up

• Liberty’s next match will be at home, Wednesday against Missouri (4-4). Match time is noon at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center.

• This is the first-ever meeting between the Lady Flames and Tigers and will be the first time Liberty has hosted an SEC opponent in women’s tennis.