Tuesday, 03/20/2012

The Flames have swept the conference's awards twice this season.

For the second time this season, the Liberty men's tennis team has taken both of the Big South Conference's weekly men's tennis awards. As announced by the conference this afternoon, Siim Tuus has been named the Player of the Week, while Dillon Segur has been selected as the Freshman of the Week. The awards cover matches for the week of March 12-18.

The award is Tuus' first since his freshman campaign, when he earned player of the week honors on one occasion, before being named the 2010 Big South Freshman of the Year.  Segur's recognition from the conference is the first of his career.

Both Tuus and Segur helped the Flames post a 3-0 record last week, stretching the team's win streak to seven games. Liberty now stands at 10-3, achieving its fourth consecutive season with double-digit victories.

Tuus' player of the week honors are a result of a 4-1 record, with all contests coming in the No. 1 singles and doubles matches. After dropping just his third singles match of the season in a three-set match, the Rakvere, Estonia native won each of his remaining matches on the week.

Against Chicago State, Tuus had a pair of strong victories, as the Flames defeated the Cougars, 7-0. Tuus picked up an 8-5 win in the lead doubles match with partner Giancarlo Lemmi, before ending the day with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 singles win.

Closing the week with a conference clash against Gardner-Webb, Tuus once again went 2-0, with the Flames earning the 5-2 team win. Lemmi and Tuus held down the No. 1 doubles slot once again, with an 8-2 victory. In singles, Tuus battled back from a one-set deficit, to take his match over Korhan Ates, 3-6, 7-5, 10-4

Meanwhile, Segur posted an unbeaten record of 4-0 last week for the Flames. Against New Jersey Institute of Technology, the Winston-Salem, N.C., native took an 8-4 win in the No. 3 doubles match with fellow freshman Jorge Azuero. He then claimed a three-set victory in his No. 5 singles match, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

Playing just singles against Chicago State, Segur notched a 6-1, 6-0 win in the No. 2 slot of head coach Chris Johnson's lineup. Against Gardner-Webb, the freshman clinched one more singles victory, getting a 6-2, 6-4 win in the No. 5 match.

Tuus' 2012 records now stand at 9-3 in singles play and 8-4 in doubles matches, including a six match win streak with partner Lemmi.  Segur is 7-5 in singles play and 5-2 in doubles contests.

The awards are the Flames' fourth and fifth of the season from the conference. Lemmi and freshman Wayne Harrell swept the awards for the week of Feb. 6-13, while Harrell added another freshman of the week honor for the week of Feb. 27-March 4.

The Flames are in action this afternoon, taking on James Madison at 2 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va.