FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams both defeated Bluefield State College, 5-4 in men's play and 8-0 in women's action, Saturday afternoon (April 18) in non-conference match-ups.
In upsetting the 46th-ranked Blues, the Patriots men improve to 8-9, while the 30th-ranked FMU women move to 10-8.
Both squads will conclude their regular-season schedule on Sunday with a Senior Day match against Flagler College at 10 a.m. on the Kassab Courts. A total of four seniors will be honored prior to the first serve.
Francis Marion held a 2-1 advantage after doubles play in the men's match. The Patriots earned straight-sets singles victories by 13th-ranked Richard Ashforth at No.1, senior Gavin Davison at No.4, and senior Marius Wahlier at No.5.
Ashforth continues his stellar sophomore campaign by improving to 15-2, while defeating the top-ranked player in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region.
In the women's match, FMU lost only two games while sprinting to an early 2-0 lead – the No.3 doubles match was not finished. In singles competition, Francis Marion dropped only three games in easily winning the top five singles matches. Freshman Martha Taylor Whisnant won at No.6 singles, but needed to capture a tiebreaker.
Senior Julia Graf continued her assault on the Patriot record book. Her doubles win moved her into sole possession of third place on the career victories list with a 68-21 record.
Graf's 6-0, 6-1 win at the No.2 singles position moved her into a tie for second place on the Patriot career list for singles wins with a 67-11 record, equaling Lee Whitwell's 67-24 tally, and pushing within four wins of the FMU career record set by Jitka Gavdunova (71-8).
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 18, 2015 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Francis Marion University 5, #46 Bluefield State College 4
Singles competition
1. #13 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. Platon Gud (BLUE) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Jacob Carey (BLUE) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Anthony Braem (BLUE) def. Dion Nijboer (FMU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Gavin Davison (FMU) def. Aziz Yuldashev (BLUE) 6-2, 6-3
5. Marius Wahlier (FMU) def. Ignacio Pulido (BLUE) 6-4, 6-2
6. Conner Pickering (BLUE) def. Eimon Heywood (FMU) 4-6, 3-0, default
Doubles competition
1. Ignacio Pulido/Platon Gud (BLUE) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Dion Nijboer (FMU) 9-7
2. Richard Ashforth/Gavin Davison (FMU) def. Jacob Carey/Aziz Yuldashev (BLUE) 8-2
3. Marius Wahlier/Eimon Heywood (FMU) def. Anthony Braem/Conner Pickering (BLUE) 8-6
Match Notes: Bluefield State College 14-6; National ranking #46; Regional ranking #1
Francis Marion University 8-9
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 18, 2015 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#30 Francis Marion University 8, Bluefield State College 0
Singles competition
1. #42 Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Lucia Young (BLUE) 6-0, 6-0
2. Julia Graf (FMU_W) def. Wendy Rudhu (BLUE) 6-0, 6-1
3. Mona Piller (FMU_W) def. Tafadzwa Mawisire (BLUE) 6-0, 6-0
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) def. M.L. Hernandez-Larez (BLUE) 6-0, 6-0
5. Christina Graf (FMU_W) def. M.E. Hernandez-Larez (BLUE) 6-1, 6-1
6. M. Taylor Whisnant (FMU_W) def. Marta Briales (BLUE) 2-6, 6-2, 11-9
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Koelliker/Julia Graf (FMU_W) def. Lucia Young/M.L. Hernandez-Larez (BLUE) 8-2
2. Sofia Henning/Christina Graf (FMU_W) def. Wendy Rudhu/Tafadzwa Mawisire (BLUE) 8-0
3. Mona Piller/M. Taylor Whisnant (FMU_W) vs. M.E. Hernandez-Larez/Marta Briales (BLUE) unfinished
Match Notes: Bluefield State College 6-15
Francis Marion University 10-8; National ranking #30; Regional ranking #7
