Liberty Wins 5 Singles Contests Against Clemson
The Liberty Flames won a majority of their singles matches against the Clemson Tigers, Friday on day one of the Liberty Dual.
The Flames posted a 5-3 record in singles competition against the Tigers and won one of four doubles matches at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center.
Thoughts From Head Coach Derek Schwandt
“It was a great opportunity to compete as a team today at our home courts. Thank you to all the Flames Tennis fans who came out to support!”
Key Stats & Notes
• Liberty’s five singles wins came courtesy of Rafael Marques Da Silva, Christiaan Worst, Thando Longwe-Smit, Deji Thomas-Smith and Omar El Kadi. Longwe-Smit, Thomas-Smith and El Kadi each won their respective matches in straight sets.
• El Kadi downed Tim Pitts 6-3, 6-1, while Thomas-Smith bested Ethan Silva by a 6-3, 6-4 score.
• Longwe-Smit picked up his team-best ninth win of the fall (9-1) in a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Clemson’s Trey Stinchcomb.
• Marques Da Silva and Worst each won their respective matches in three sets. Marques Da Silva upended Spencer Whitaker of the Tigers in come-from-behind fashion, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Worst also came from behind to defeat Nini Dica 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
• Three of Friday’s four doubles contests between the Flames and Tigers went to tiebreakers, with Clemson winning two of those. Liberty’s one doubles win came in a tiebreaker, as Longwe-Smit and El Kadi won 7-6 (5) over the Clemson pairing of Silva/Pitts.
• Two of the Flames’ three singles setbacks were in three sets, including Josh Wilson’s match which needed a tiebreaker to settle. Plans Gonzalez narrowly prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5).
Up Next
Liberty will be back in action on Saturday against the Penn State Nittany Lions. First serve is 3 p.m. from the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center.
Remaining Schedule
Saturday
9 a.m. – Clemson vs. Old Dominion
3 p.m. – Liberty vs. Penn State
Sunday
9 a.m. – Clemson vs. Penn State
2 p.m. – Liberty vs. Old Dominion
