COLUMBUS, GA – The Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams lost to a pair of nationally ranked Columbus State University squads on Sunday (Feb. 14). The 48th-ranked FMU men fell to the 13th-ranked CSU men 7-2 and the Patriots women dropped an 8-1 decision to an eighth-ranked Cougar squad.
Both Francis Marion teams fall to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in PBC play. The Patriots will travel to Wingate University on Friday for a 1 p.m. match before returning home to entertain the University of Mount Olive on Sunday (Feb. 21) at 1 p.m.
Junior Eva Lieben provided the lone women's victory with a 6-4, 6-3 win at the No.3 singles position. Two of the three doubles matches ended with 8-4 and 8-3 tallies.
Junior Richard Ashforth helped provide the two FMU men's points. Ranked seventh in NCAA Division II singles, Ashforth won 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) at No.1 singles, and he and freshman Robin Hoek were victorious 8-6 at No.1 doubles. CSU won the other two doubles matches by 8-4 scores.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 14, 2016 at Columbus, Ga. (Blackmon Tennis Center)
#8 Columbus State 8, Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. #14 Beatriz Leon (CSU-W) def. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) 6-0, 6-3
2. Camila Tobar (CSU-W) def. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-2
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Saravinder Pannu (CSU-W) 6-4, 6-3
4. Olivera Tadijin (CSU-W) def. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-1, 6-2
5. #50 Kirsa Utech (CSU-W) def. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 6-3, 6-0
6. Rachael Williams (CSU-W) def. Kristel Kalm (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #11 Camila Tobar/Kirsa Utech (CSU-W) def. Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 8-3
2. Beatriz Leon/Giorgia Vitale (CSU-W) def. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 8-1
3. Olivera Tadijin/Rachael Williams (CSU-W) def. Kristel Kalm/Mona Piller (FMU_W) 8-4
Match Notes: Francis Marion 3-2 ; Columbus State 3-1; National ranking #8; Regional ranking #2
Men's Tennis Match Results
Feb 14, 2016 at Columbus, Ga. (Blackmon Tennis Center)
#13 Columbus State 7, #48 Francis Marion University 2
Singles competition
1. #7 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. KP Pannu (CSU-M) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
2. #48 Marco Almorin (CSU-M) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 6-4, 6-1
3. #43 Jorge Vargas (CSU-M) def. Philipp Sluga (FMU) 7-6 (10-8), 6-4
4. Zach Whaanga (CSU-M) def. Robin Hoek (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Maciej Kierkus (CSU-M) def. Raul Madrid (FMU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Benedikt Wilde (CSU-M) def. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Robin Hoek (FMU) def. Maciej Kierkus/Marco Almorin (CSU-M) 8-6
2. KP Pannu/Zach Whaanga (CSU-M) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) 8-4
3. Jorge Vargas/Benedikt Wilde (CSU-M) def. Tarass Thevenaz/Philipp Sluga (FMU) 8-4
Match Notes: Francis Marion 3-2; National ranking #48 ; Columbus State 4-1; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #4
