SAVANNAH, GA – Thirteenth-ranked Francis Marion University used its strength at the top of the lineup to dispatch 22nd-ranked Flagler College 5-3, in NCAA Southeast Regional women's tennis action on Friday afternoon (May 7) at Bacon Park.

The Patriots (17-5) win for the third time this season against the fellow Peach Belt Conference rival Saints (16-6), and again it used wins from the top in claiming the victory. It also marks the third consecutive year FMU has reached the regional title match.

Francis Marion advances to face top-ranked and host Armstrong Atlantic State University (28-0), a 5-0 winner over Queens University of Charlotte in Friday's other semifinal, at 2 p.m. in the region championship on Saturday. The winner of Saturday's final advances to the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships Round of 16 in Altamonte Springs, Fla., on May 12-15.

Francis Marion earned a 2-1 edge in doubles with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. The second-ranked duo of Sabina Baberadova and Tereza Sykorova beat Chelsi de Cuba and Lauren Pfeiffer 8-3 at the top spot and then 13th-ranked Mona Blauen and Jitka Gavdunova bested Veronica Figueroa and Jennifer Saviano 8-4 at No. 2 doubles. Flagler's doubles point came at No. 3 doubles as Rachel Gould and Chelsea Taylor blanked Karine Augur and Kerry Hall, 8-0.

Flagler evened the match quickly with a 6-0, 6-0 win by Taylor over Augur at No. 6 singles, but FMU went back on top with No. 36-ranked Baberadova's 6-2, 6-0 win over Pfeiffer at No. 2 singles. Flagler's Deon Miller beat Hall 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 singles to tie things up at 3-all, but FMU claimed the victory on Blauen's 7-5, 6-0 win over Saviano at No. 4 singles and No. 34-ranked Gavdunova's 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Figueroa at No. 3 singles. 

 

2010 NCAA Southeast Regional
#13 Francis Marion University 5, #22 Flagler 3
May 07, 2010 at Savannah, Ga. (Bacon Park)

Singles competition
1. #10 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) vs. Chelsi de Cuba (FCW) 4-6, 7-5, unfinished
2. #36 Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. Lauren Pfeiffer (FCW) 6-2, 6-0
3. #34 Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) def. Veronica Figueroa (FCW) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Mona Blauen (FMU) def. Jennifer Saviano (FCW) 7-5, 6-0
5. Deon Miller (FCW) def. Kerry Hall (FMU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Chelsea Taylor (FCW) def. Karine Augur (FMU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #2 Sabina Baberadova/Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. Chelsi de Cuba/Lauren Pfeiffer (FCW) 8-3
2. #13 Mona Blauen/Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) def. Veronica Figueroa/Jennifer Saviano (FCW) 8-4
3. Rachel Gould/Chelsea Taylor (FCW) def. Karine Augur/Kerry Hall (FMU) 8-0

Match Notes
Flagler 16-6; National ranking #22
Francis Marion University 17-5; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,5,4,3)
2010 NCAA Southeast Regional - Second Round
T-3:27 A-50