FLORENCE, SC – Freshman Tarass Thevenaz won his match in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) at No.5 singles to lift 48th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 5-4 upset of 40th-ranked and previously unbeaten University of Mount Olive, Sunday afternoon (Feb. 21) in men's tennis action. The FMU women did not lose a set in sweeping the Trojans 9-0.
The Patriots men climb above .500 at 4-3, while the women up their record to 5-2. Sunday's matches were played at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center after a rain shower swept over FMU's Kassab Courts near midday on Sunday.
Both Patriot teams will hold their annual Sea of Red match when they play host to local rival Coker College on Thursday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
Francis Marion won two of three men's double matches, but Mount Olive rallied to tie the match at 4-4 with wins at singles spots No.2, 4, and 6. In addition to Therenaz, FMU registered singles victories by seventh-ranked Richard Ashforth at No.1 (6-4, 6-2) and freshman Philipp Sluga at No. 3 (6-3, 6-4).
In the women's match, the Patriots dropped only 13 games in the six singles matches.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Feb 21, 2016 at Florence, SC (Florence Tennis Center)
#48 Francis Marion University 5, #40 University of Mount Olive 4
Singles competition
1. #7 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. Ogulcan Deniz (UMO-MT) 6-4, 6-2
2. Jose Luis Cortijos (UMO-MT) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 6-4, 7-5
3. Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. Martin Moser (UMO-MT) 6-3, 6-4
4. Martim Sousa (UMO-MT) def. Raul Madrid (FMU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Sherzod Akramov (UMO-MT) 6-2, 6-3
6. Yannic Stark (UMO-MT) def. Dion Nijboer (FMU) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Robin Hoek (FMU) def. Ogulcan Deniz/Sherzod Akramov (UMO-MT) 8-4
2. Jose Luis Cortijos/Martim Sousa (UMO-MT) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) 8-4
3. Philipp Sluga/Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Martin Moser/Yannic Stark (UMO-MT) 8-6
Match Notes: University of Mount Olive 3-1; National ranking #40; Regional ranking #7
Francis Marion University 4-3; National ranking #48
Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 21, 2016 at Florence, SC (Florence Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 9, University of Mount Olive 0
Singles competition
1. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Stella Di Michele (UMO-WT) 6-2, 6-2
2. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Alejandra Hernandez (UMO-WT) 6-0, 6-2
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Paulina Delgado (UMO-WT) 6-1, 6-1
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) def. Mulan Bartz (UMO-WT) 6-3, 6-0
5. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Mariana Gamboa (UMO-WT) 6-0, 6-0
6. Kristel Kalm (FMU_W) def. Nicole La Chappelle (UMO-WT) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Stella Di Michele/Alejandra Hernandez (UMO-WT) 8-0
2. Mona Piller/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) def. Paulina Delgado/Jennifer Byrd (UMO-WT) 8-2
3. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Mariana Gamboa/Nicole La Chappelle (UMO-WT) 8-0
Match Notes: University of Mount Olive 1-3 ; Francis Marion University 5-2
