LYNCHBURG, Va. – Gamecock men's tennis was swept in Sunday's ASUN Conference match at no. 67 Liberty. Jacksonville State could never find their footing against one of the top teams in the country, falling 7-0 on the road. 
 
A big key for the decisive Senior Day win by the Flames (11-8, 6-0) was a clutch triumph in doubles play. Jax State (10-8, 2-2) rallied after a tough defeat on court two as Vanja Dobrnjac and Lucius Soller posted a 6-3 victory in the no. 1 doubles flight. Logan Haga and Xavier Sarda Marti battled back from an early deficit to force tiebreakers in the winner-take-all showdown on court three, but their opponents narrowly withstood their attack to claim a 7-6 (7-2) result and clinch the opening point. 
 
Singles play was filled with emphatic wins by Liberty. The home team earned four straight two-set singles decisions to win the match before the Gamecocks could catch their breath. Vicente Arbelaez forced a third set in the no. 6 singles flight but fell 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 5-10, before Alin Fatu suffered a similar fate on court two, 3-6, 7-5, 5-10.
 
With their win in doubles action, Dorbnjac and Soller are now tied alongside freshman Konstantin Benneman for the team's lead with seven doubles results. Dobrnjac, a junior from Boznia and Herzegovina, has a team-best 13 singles victories. He endured just his fourth one-on-one loss of 2023 on Sunday at the Liberty Tennis Courts. 
 
Jacksonville State's men return to action this weekend at the JSU Tennis Courts. The Gamecocks will host North Florida on Friday afternoon and will meet Kennesaw State at home on Sunday. Those matches are slated to have 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. first serves respectively and both league contests will follow women's action. Links to follow along with live stats for each of this week's matches will be provided at JSUGamecockSports.com.
 
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Twitter (@JaxStateTN), Instagram (@JaxStateMTennis), and Facebook (Jacksonville State University Tennis) accounts. 
 
Tennis Match Results
JSU vs LU
3/26/2023 at Lynchburg, Va.
LU 7, JSU 0
 
Singles Competition
 

1. Rafael Marques da Silva (LU) def. Xavier Sarda Marti (JSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Christian Worst (LU) def. Alin Fatu (JSU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-5
3. Deji Thomas-Smith (LU) def. Matei Palcau (JSU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Beau Pelletier (LU) def. Vanja Dobrnjac (JSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Luis Felipe Manuel (LU) def. Lucius Soller (JSU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Zion Heaven (LU) def. Vicente Arbelaez (JSU) 6-2, 6-7 (1-7), 10-5

Doubles Competition
 

1. Vanja Dobrnjac/Lucius Soller (JSU) def. Josh Wilson/Christian Worst (LU) 6-3
2. Luis Felipe Manuel/Deji Thomas-Smith (LU) def. Konstantin Benneman/Alin Fatu (JSU) 6-1
3. Rafael Marques da Silva/Beau Pelletier (LU) def. Logan Haga/Xavier Sarda Marti (JSU) 7-6 (7-2)