Liberty Earns Weekend Sweep With 4-2 Win Over Miami (Ohio)

The Liberty Lady Flames came back from two points down for the second match in a row and bested the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks 4-2 in a neutral site match at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, Saturday afternoon.

Liberty dropped two points to begin the match but fought back to win four straight to mirror Friday’s match against Michigan State.

Liberty improves its record to 5-1 for the season, dropping the RedHawks to a 3-5 record. The Lady Flames defeated the RedHawks for the second time in as many meetings, the last matchup coming in Jan. 2020. Liberty has won four straight matches overall.

The win earned the Lady Flames a 2-0 weekend, their second such consecutive weekend.

Thoughts From Head Coach Jeff Maren

“All I can say is that this team is full of heart and guts and all kinds of fight! Miami made us dig deep inside for the win. We grew so much this week and now see clearly what we are capable of when we fight for each other. To God be the glory!”

Liberty 4, Miami University 2 

Singles Competition

1. M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) def. Laura Rico (MIAMI) 6-3, 6-1
2. C Denysiewicz-Slowek (MIAMI) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) 7-5, 6-1
3. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Nishitha Saravanan (MIAMI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) vs. Emilia Valentinsson (MIAMI) 4-6, 6-3, 4-5, unfinished
5. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) def. Jutte Van Hansewyck (MIAMI) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) def. Sara Zalukar (MIAMI) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5

Doubles Competition

1. Laura Rico/C Denysiewicz-Slowek (MIAMI) def. M. Juliana P. Romero/Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) 6-2
2. Emilia Valentinsson/Sara Zalukar (MIAMI) def. Tiffany Nguyen/Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) 7-5
3. Alexandra Almborg/Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) vs. Nishitha Saravanan/Jutte Van Hansewyck (MIAMI) 4-4, unfinished

Liberty 5-1

Miami University 3-5

Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,3,5,6)

How It Happened

• Liberty dropped the doubles point to start the night off. Liberty’ No. 1 doubles pairing of Maria Juliana Parra Romero and Marina Davytan was taken down by the RedHawks’ Laura Rico and Catherine Denysiewicz-Slowek 6-2 to begin the day. Miami clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 result from its No. 2 pairing, Emilia Valentinsoon and Sara Zalukar, over the Lady Flames’ Tiffany Nguyen and Micaela Ode Mitre.

• For the second match in a row Liberty faced a two-point deficit after the RedHawks’ No. 2 singles player Denysiewicz-Slowek topped Liberty’s Alexandra Almborg, 7-5, 6-1.

• Liberty claimed its first point of the match by the Lady Flames’ No. 1 player Parra Romero taking down the RedHawks’ Rico 6-3, 6-1. The sophomore improves to 5-0 in singles this spring and currently owns a nine-match winning streak.

• Liberty’s Esther Lovato also continued her hot streak on court three, besting the RedHawks’ Nishitha Saravanan 6-2, 6-3. Lovato’s victory provided the Lady Flames their second point of the match and tied it at 2-all. The junior is 5-0 in spring singles contests and has won eight straight matches dating back to the fall.

• In another parallel to Friday’s match, the Lady Flames’ Nguyen nabbed Liberty its third point of the match after topping the RedHawks’ Jutte Van Hansewyck to a 7-6, 6-4 tune on court five.

• The match clinching point for the Lady Flames came on court six, with Ode Mitre fighting the RedHawks’ Zalukar in three sets. Ode Mitre earned the first set, before a back-and-forth showdown occurred in the second and third sets. The junior avoided a third set tiebreaker, taking the 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 nail-biting win.

Next Up

• Liberty heads back to Lynchburg to host a Friday doubleheader against Norfolk State (0-1) and Maryland (4-1). The matchup with Norfolk State starts at 9 a.m., and the Maryland match is scheduled for first serve at 1 p.m.

• The Lady Flames own a 4-1 all-time record against Norfolk State. Liberty has faced Maryland just once, losing in 2017.

Main Photo at Top of Story: Maria Juliana Parra Romero (left) and Marina Davtyan (right)