Liberty University
William & Mary
Liberty Defeats In-State Foe William & Mary 5-2
3/6/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Playing its first match in 10 days, Liberty defeated in-state foe William & Mary 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center.
The Lady Flames improve to 8-2 overall and 5-0 at home in 2021. Liberty has won all three of its home matches in the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center since it opened, Feb. 13. William & Mary falls to 0-3 on the season, with each of its losses coming on the road.
Thoughts From Head Coach Jeff Maren
"I thought the girls were really gritty today. They fought with a lot of effort, a lot of passion. I was really impressed with how they dug into each match."
Liberty 5, William & Mary 2
Singles Competition
1. Mila Saric (WMWT) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) 7-5, 6-2
2. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) def. Jill van den Dungen (WMWT) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
3. Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) def. Vitoria Okuyama (WMWT) 6-2, 6-2
4. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Elisia Van Meeteren (WMWT) 6-0, 6-1
5. Alisia Manolescu (WMWT) def. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-8)
6. Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) def. Raffaela Alhach (WMWT) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Alexandra Almborg/Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) def. Jill van den Dungen/Raffaela Alhach (WMWT) 6-3
2. Mila Saric/Vitoria Okuyama (WMWT) def. Tiffany Nguyen/Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) 6-4
3. Marina Davtyan/Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Elisia Van Meeteren/Lisa Fukutoku (WMWT) 6-1
William & Mary 0-3
Liberty 8-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,6,3,1,2,5)
Official: K Zimmerman/A Sarver T-2:54
How It Happened
• Liberty's No. 3 and No. 1 doubles units claimed victories to stake the hosts to an early 1-0 lead. The No. 3 unit comprised of Marina Davtyan and Esther Lovato, playing a competitive match for the first time together, topped the Tribe's Elisia Van Meeteren and Lisa Fukutoku 6-1.
• The Lady Flames' top unit, Alexandra Almborg and Eloise Saraty, took care of business on court one with a 6-3 decision over Jill van den Dungen and Raffaela Alhach.
• William & Mary's Mila Saric and Vitoria Okuyama (No. 2 doubles) prevented the Liberty doubles sweep by upending Tiffany Nguyen and Micaela Ode Mitre 6-4.
• The first three singles matches to finish all went to Liberty (No. 4, No. 6 and No. 3). Esther Lovato of the Lady Flames stayed unbeaten (9-0) with a two-set triumph (6-0, 6-1) versus Ven Meeteren on court four. Liberty's lead increased to 3-0 when Saraty got past Alhach in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
• The match-clinching fourth point went to Davtyan, a 6-2, 6-2 winner against Okuyama at No. 3 singles. Davtyan's victory was her ninth of the spring, as she is 9-1 on the season (1-0 No. 2, 8-1 No. 3).
• The Tribe's first point of the afternoon came via Saric, a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Almborg at No. 1 singles.
• Liberty's Nguyen (No. 2 singles) battled back from being down a set to take down van den Dungen in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7) and push the Lady Flames lead back to four (5-1).
• William & Mary's Alisia Manolescu bounced back from losing the first set to Ode Mitre on court five, prevailing 3-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (10-8).
• Liberty is now 2-1 all-time against William & Mary and has won the last two matchups.
Next Up
• The Lady Flames will head to South Carolina for a pair of matches next weekend. Liberty will square off with Charleston Southern (1-3), Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a Saturday morning (10 a.m.) bout at College of Charleston (3-5).
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
4,6,3,1,2,5