FLORENCE, SC – The Top-10 ranked Columbus State University men's and women's tennis teams defeated the nationally ranked Francis Marion University squads in both school's Peach Belt Conference openers, Saturday (Feb. 7) on FMU's Kassab Courts.
The sixth-ranked CSU men beat the 29th-ranked Francis Marion men 7-2, while the eighth-ranked Cougar women downed the 24th-ranked Patriot women 8-1.
In the men's match, FMU sophomore Richard Ashforth, ranked 17th nationally in singles, upset 16th-ranked Oussama Zoghlami 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 at the No.1 position, while the Patriot tandem of Marius Wahlier and Jannik Roettlingsberger won at No.2 doubles by an 8-6 decision.
All three of the doubles matches were tightly contested and two of the singles matches went to three sets.
The lone point for the FMU women came from senior Julia Graf, who was victorious at No.2 single 6-4, 2-6, 10-5 over Kirsa Utech.
The FMU men will play at NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina University on Friday at 2 p.m. The Patriots women will return to action on Feb. 18 by hosting North Greenville University at 2:30 p.m.
#6 Columbus State University 7, #29 Francis Marion University 2
Feb 07, 2015 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Singles competition
1. #17 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. #16 Oussama Zoghlami (CSU-M) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. #34 Adi Malicbegovic (CSU-M) def. Gavin Davison (FMU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Benedikt Wilde (CSU-M) def. Marius Wahlier (FMU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Marco Almorin (CSU-M) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Jorge Vargas (CSU-M) def. Dion Nijboer (FMU) 6-1, 7-5
6. Maciej Kierkus (CSU-M) def. Krisztian Mago (FMU) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #11 Adi Malicbegovic/Marco Almorin (CSU-M) def. #9 Richard Ashforth/Gavin Davison (FMU) 8-6
2. Marius Wahlier/J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) def. Benedikt Wilde/Sam Kennedy (CSU-M) 8-6
3. Oussama Zoghlami/Jorge Vargas (CSU-M) def. Dion Nijboer/Eimon Heywood (FMU) 9-7
Match Notes
Columbus State University 2-0 , 1-0 PBC; National ranking #6; Regional ranking #2
Francis Marion University 1-2 , 0-1 PBC; National ranking #29; Regional ranking #8
#8 Columbus State University 8, #24 Francis Marion University 1
Feb 07, 2015 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Singles competition
1. #12 Beatriz Leon (CSU-W) def. #37 Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-2
2. Julia Graf (FMU_W) def. Kirsa Utech (CSU-W) 6-4, 2-6, 10-5
3. Giorgia Vitale (CSU-W) def. Nora Westbye (FMU_W) 5-0, 99-0
4. Olivera Tadijin (CSU-W) def. Mona Piller (FMU_W) 7-5, 6-4
5. Camila Tobar (CSU-W) def. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-2
6. Saravinder Pannu (CSU-W) def. Christina Graf (FMU_W) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Beatriz Leon/Giorgia Vitale (CSU-W) def. Julia Graf/Nora Westbye (FMU_W) 8-3
2. Camila Tobar/Kirsa Utech (CSU-W) def. Samantha Koelliker/Christina Graf (FMU_W) 8-5
3. Elena Preadca/Olivera Tadijin (CSU-W) def. Mona Piller/Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 8-3
Match Notes
Columbus State University 1-0 , 1-0 PBC; National ranking #8; Regional ranking #2
Francis Marion University 1-2 , 0-1 PBC; National ranking #24; Regional ranking #3
