YOUNG HARRIS, GA – The Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams dropped road matches to Peach Belt Conference opponent Young Harris College on Sunday afternoon (April 12). The 48th-ranked Young Harris men captured a 7-2 win over the Patriots, while the 30th-ranked FMU women dropped a 6-3 decision to the Mountain Lions.
The Francis Marion men (7-9, 2-7) and Patriot women (9-8, 5-7) will both host Bluefield State College on Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Kassab Courts.
Young Harris swept all three men's doubles matches and then recorded a win at No.4 singles to take a 4-0 lead. Francis Marion sophomore Richard Ashforth won in straight sets (6-3, 6-1) at No.1 and Jannik Roettlingsberger won by retirement (1-6, 7-5, ret) at No.2 singles to bring the Patriots to within 4-2. Ashforth (14-2) is ranked 13th nationally among NCAA Division II singles players.
However, the Mountain Lions earned a straight-sets victory at position No.5 to clinch the match.
In the women's match, Francis Marion won at No.1 doubles as senior Julia Graf and sophomore Samantha Koelliker registered an 8-3 decision, but the Mountain Lions won the other two doubles points. Graf moved into a tie for third place on the FMU career doubles victories list with a 67-21 record.
The two teams traded singles wins with Graf winning at No.2 and Young Harris winning at the No.5 spot to make the match score 3-2. The home team then clinched the match with wins at No.1 and No. 3.
Graf's singles win gave her sole possession of third place on the Patriot career list for singles wins with a 66-11 record, and moves her to within one victory of the second spot (Lee Whitwell's 67-24) and five shy of the FMU career record set by Jitka Gavdunova (71-8).
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 12, 2015 at Young Harris, Ga. (Bob & Gayle Nichols Tennis Complex)
#48 Young Harris 7, Francis Marion 2
Singles competition
1. #13 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. Sebastian Edin (YHC) 6-3, 6-1
2. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) def. Guilherme Frias (YHC) 1-6, 7-5, retired
3. Brecht Vangrinsven (YHC) def. Gavin Davison (FMU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Daniel Tiboldi (YHC) def. Dion Nijboer (FMU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Federico Terreni (YHC) def. Eimon Heywood (FMU) 6-1, 6-2
6. William Edin (YHC) def. Marius Wahlier (FMU) 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-0 (10-8)
Doubles competition
1. Sebastian Edin/William Edin (YHC) def. Richard Ashforth/J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 8-3
2. Guilherme Frias/Daniel Tiboldi (YHC) def. Gavin Davison/Marius Wahlier (FMU) 8-5
3. Raul Quevedo/Brecht Vangrinsven (YHC) def. Dion Nijboer/Patrick Hensley (FMU) 8-4
Match Notes: Francis Marion 7-9, 2-7 PBC
Young Harris 13- 7, 4-6 PBC; National ranking #48; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,1,2,5,6,3)
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 12, 2015 at Young Harris, Ga. (Bob & Gayle NIchols Tennis Complex)
Young Harris 6, #30 Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. Eva Castiglioni (YHC) def. #42 Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) 6-4, 6-4
2. Julia Graf (FMU_W) def. Aimee Dorley (YHC) 6-1, 7-5
3. Elin Rundcrantz (YHC) def. Nora Westbye (FMU_W) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
4. Laura Sanchez (YHC) def. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
5. Maria Puerta (YHC) def. Mona Piller (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-1
6. Christina Graf (FMU_W) def. Carolina Hernandez (YHC) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Koelliker/Julia Graf (FMU_W) def. Eva Castiglioni/Laura Sanchez (YHC) 8-3
2. Elin Rundcrantz/Maria Puerta (YHC) def. Sofia Henning/M. Taylor Whisnant (FMU_W) 8-1
3. Carolina Hernandez/Kadie Hudgins (YHC) def. Mona Piller/Christina Graf (FMU_W) 8-4
Match Notes: Francis Marion University 9-8, 5-7 PBC; National ranking #30; Regional ranking #7
Young Harris 13-8, 7-6 PBC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,2,1,3,6,4)
