FLORENCE, SC – Senior Kimberley Hurter won a marathon second-set tie-breaker to win her singles match at the No.4 position and clinch 41st-ranked Francis Marion University's 5-4 come-from-behind win over 26th-ranked Georgia College, Thursday afternoon (April 17) in the quarterfinal round of the Peach Belt Conference Women's tennis Tournament.
The victory was also the 300th for FMU head coach Garth Thomson. In his 22nd year at the helm of the Patriots, he owns a 300-175 mark. Earlier this season, Thomson registered his 300th victory on the men's side.
Francis Marion, seeded fourth, improves to 14-5, while the fifth-seeded Bobcats drop to 16-7.
In other quarterfinal action on Thursday at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Tennis Center, top-seeded and second-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University beat eighth-seeded USC Aiken 5-0, second-seeded Columbus State University beat seventh-seeded University of Montevallo 5-2, and third-seeded Flagler College beat sixth-seeded Lander University 5-3.
FMU advances to face Armstrong in the semifinals on Friday at 9 a.m. CSU and Flagler will face off in the other semifinal, also at 9 a.m. The four quarterfinal losing teams all returned to the court later Thursday afternoon to play in the consolation bracket.
Francis Marion took a 2-1 advantage after doubles play. Hurter and freshman Samantha Koelliker rallied to record a 9-8 win at No.2 doubles. The duo trailed 3-2 in the tie-breaker, but ran off the final five points, capped by a winning passing shot by Hurter, to give FMU the early match lead.
The Bobcats quickly picked up straight-set singles victories at spots No.1, No.5, and No.6 to grab a 4-2 match lead.
Patriot sophomore Nora Westbye shook off an injury and persevered for a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 win at the No.3 spot and junior Julia Graf won 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 at No.2 singles to even the match at 4-4.
All eyes turned to the No.4 match, where Hurter and Georgia College's Cristalei Polk were locked in a tight contest. Hurter won the opening set 6-3 and the second set went to a tie-breaker. Trailing 5-3, Hurter rallied with three straight points. Hurter eventually won the tie-breaker 11-9 to end the nearly four-and-a-half match between the Patriots and Bobcats.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 16, 2014 at Florence, SC
#41 Francis Marion University 5, #26 Georgia College 4
Singles competition
1. Macy Polk (GC-W) def. Samantha Koelliker (FMUW) 6-3, 6-3
2. Julia Graf (FMUW) def. Camille Clausse-Pujo (GC-W) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
3. Nora Westbye (FMUW) def. Ivana Marevic (GC-W) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
4. Kimberley Hurter (FMUW) def. Cristalei Polk (GC-W) 6-3, 7-6 (11-9)
5. Hannah Serdinia (GC-W) def. Veronika Viegas (FMUW) 6-1, 6-2
6. Katie Krupp (GC-W) def. Savanna Summers (FMUW) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #16 Julia Graf/Nora Westbye (FMUW) def. Ivana Marevic/Camille Clausse-Pujo (GC-W) 8-6
2. Samantha Koelliker/Kimberley Hurter (FMUW) def. Macy Polk/Hannah Serdinia (GC-W) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Katie Krupp/Cristalei Polk (GC-W) def. Veronika Viegas/Savanna Summers (FMUW) 8-0
Match Notes:
Georgia College 16-7; National ranking #26; Regional ranking #4
Francis Marion University 14-5; National ranking #41; Regional ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,5,1,3,2,4)
Peach Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Match
Francis Marion #4 seed; Georgia College #5 seed
T-4:20 A-37
