FLORENCE, S.C. – In a battle of nationally ranked Peach Belt Conference teams, Lander University came out on top in both men's and women's action against Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 21) spoiling Homecoming for the Patriots.

The 33rd-ranked Lander women edged the 24th-ranked Francis Marion women 5-4, while the eighth-ranked Bearcat men blanked the 29th-ranked FMU men 9-0.

The Francis Marion women drop to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the PBC, while the Patriot men fall to 1-4 and 0-2.

Francis Marion's match against USC Aiken on Sunday (Feb. 22) has been postponed until March 26 due to forecasted wet weather on Sunday. Both FMU squads will play at Wingate on Thursday at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, FMU trailed 2-1 after doubles play in the women's match.  The Patriots earned straight-set wins at singles spots No.1, No.2, and No.6, but fell one point short.

The best opportunity for FMU to earn a point in the men's contest came at No.3 doubles where Marius Wahlier and Jannik Roettlingsberger lost 8-5 or at No.1 singles where 17th-ranked Richard Ashford dropped a 6-4, 6-3 decision to 21st-ranked Benjamin Salle.

Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 21, 2015 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#33 Lander University 5, #24 Francis Marion University 4
Singles competition
1. #37 Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Marion Courbis (LUW) 6-0, 6-0
2. Julia Graf (FMU_W) def. Ivanka Mocic (LUW) 7-5, 6-1
3. Elise Sancelme (LUW) def. Nora Westbye (FMU_W) 7-5, 6-0
4. Anni Poikola (LUW) def. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-4, 7-5
5. Alyssa Savill (LUW) def. Mona Piller (FMU_W) 6-3, 6-4
6. Christina Graf (FMU_W) def. Maggie Elliott (LUW) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Marion Courbis/Ivanka Mocic (LUW) def. Julia Graf/Nora Westbye (FMU_W) 8-4
2. Elise Sancelme/Maggie Elliott (LUW) def. Mona Piller/Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 8-6
3. Samantha Koelliker/Christina Graf (FMU_W) def. Alyssa Savill/Renata Mello (LUW) 8-3

Match Notes: Lander University 3-0, 2-0 PBC; National ranking #33; Regional ranking #6
Francis Marion University 1-3, 0-2 PBC; National ranking #24; Regional ranking #3

Men's Tennis Match Results
Feb 21, 2015 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#8 Lander University 9, #29 Francis Marion University 0
Singles competition
1. #21 Benjamin Salle (LANDER) def. #17 Richard Ashforth (FMU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Loic Minery (LANDER) def. Gavin Davison (FMU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Thibaut Leoussoff (LANDER) def. Dion Nijboer (FMU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Adam Jonsson (LANDER) def. Marius Wahlier (FMU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Diego Zegarra (LANDER) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Samuel Poutignat (LANDER) def. Krisztian Mago (FMU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Adam Jonsson/Loic Minery (LANDER) def. #9 Richard Ashforth/Gavin Davison (FMU) 8-2
2. Marc Hofer/Thibaut Leoussoff (LANDER) def. Eimon Heywood/Dion Nijboer (FMU) 8-0
3. Benjamin Salle/Samuel Poutignat (LANDER) def. Marius Wahlier/J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 8-5

Match Notes: Lander University 4-1 , 2-0 PBC; National ranking #8; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 1-4, 0-2 PBC; National ranking #29; Regional ranking #8