FLORENCE, SC - The fifth-ranked Francis Marion University men's tennis team captured its conference opener on Sunday (Feb. 15) with an 8-1 victory over North Georgia College & State University.

The Patriots remain unbeaten at 3-0 overall, while North Georgia drops to 1-3 and 0-2.

FMU will play host to Mount Olive College on Thursday at 3 p.m., while the Saints host Berry College on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

Men's Tennis Match Results

North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ vs Francis Marion University

Feb 15, 2009 at Florence, SC

#5 Francis Marion University 8, North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 1

Singles competition

1. #7 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Luciano Paes Neto (NGCSU) 6-1, 6-4

2. Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) def. Samuel Moore (NGCSU) 6-0, 6-3

3. Grant Partrick (NGCSU) def. Karl Rogers (FMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

4. Mario Kieck (FMU) def. Daniel Aguilon (NGCSU) 6-4, 6-0

5. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) def. Adrien Saulais (NGCSU) 6-3, 6-0

6. Michael Hafke (FMU) def. Brandon Sloan (NGCSU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Oshada Wijemanne/Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) def. Grant Partrick/Adrien Saulais (NGCSU) 8-3

2. Mario Kieck/Dirk Bair (FMU) def. Luciano Paes Neto/Daniel Aguilon (NGCSU) 8-2

3. Matthew Keth/Noah van Moerkerken (FMU) def. Brandon Sloan/Samuel Moore (NGCSU) 8-0

Match Notes:

North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 1-3, 0-2 PBC

Francis Marion University 3-0, 1-0 PBC; National ranking #5; Regional ranking #2

T-4:00  A-50