Liberty Posts Strong Showing Against Princeton on Day 1 of Penn Invitational

Liberty posted a strong showing on day one of the Penn Invitational versus the Princeton Tigers, Friday at the Hamlin Tennis Center.

The Flames, the 66th-ranked team from a year ago and back-to-back ASUN champions, went 3-1 in doubles and 6-2 in singles against the Tigers, who finished the 2022 season at No. 40 in the country and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Four Liberty players won in both doubles and singles on Friday – Rafael Marques Da Silva, Deji Thomas-Smith, Thando Longwe-Smit and Omar El Kadi.

Key Stats & Notes

• Marques Da Silva and Thomas-Smith teamed up for an 8-7 doubles decision over Sebastian Sec and Ellis Short of the Tigers. The two Flames players went on to win in singles as well, with Marques Da Silva besting Thomas Bosancic in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) and Thomas-Smith taking down Filippos Astrenidis 7-5, 6-4.

• Longwe-Smit and El Kadi edged Princeton’s Ben Smith and Aidan Mahoney 8-7. Longwe-Smit picked up his second victory of the day over Mahoney, topping the Tigers sophomore 6-2, 6-2. El Kadi upended Smith for the second time as well, winning in two sets (6-3, 7-5).

• Liberty’s third doubles team to emerge victorious today was Josh Wilson and Christiaan Worst, who got past Bosancic and Astrenidis 8-7.

• Flames senior Beau Pelletier, a transfer from South Carolina, earned his first victory in a Liberty uniform. Pelletier battled past Sec in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

• Pelletier’s doubles partner today, fellow senior Zion Heaven, knocked off Short (Princeton) in consecutive sets (7-6, 6-4).

Up Next

Day two of the Penn Invitational will feature Liberty versus Temple. Match time is 2 p.m. at the Hamlin Tennis Center.

Remaining Schedule

Saturday

2 p.m. – Liberty vs. Temple | Hamlin Tennis Center

Sunday

10 a.m. – Liberty at Penn | Hamlin Tennis Center