ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – Led by sophomore Raul Madrid and freshman Tarass Thevenaz, the 50th-ranked Francis Marion University men's tennis team upset 14th-ranked Flagler College 5-4, Sunday afternoon (April 10) in Peach Belt Conference action, while the 32nd-ranked Patriot women's squad lost a narrow 5-4 decision to the 10th-ranked Flagler women.
The Francis Marion men improve to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in PBC play, while the Patriot women drop to 14-5 and 5-4.
Both FMU squads will conclude their regular-season schedules with three home conference matches this week, beginning with Georgia Southwestern State University on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
In Sunday's men's match, Francis Marion stunned the Saints by winning all three doubles matches by scores of 9-7, 9-7, and 8-6. Junior Richard Ashford and freshman Philipp Sluga defeated the nation's 5th-ranked duo of Kevin Gonzalez and Lukas Storck 9-7 at the No.1 position, while Madrid teamed with junior Jannik Roettlingsberger to win 8-6 at the No.3 spot. Thevenaz and freshman Robin Hoek won 9-7 at the No.2 position.
Flagler rallied to win three straight singles matches to knot the score at 3-3, but Thevenaz won 6-4, 6-2 at No.5 and Madrid clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No.6.
In the women's contest, Flagler swept the three doubles matches. Patriot junior Eva Lieben won 6-3, 6-1 at No.3 singles and freshman Marie Krueger defeated the 49th-ranked player in Division II 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 singles – sandwiched around a Flagler victory at the No.2 spot – to draw Francis Marion to with 4-2.
However, the Saints won at the No.5 spot to register the deciding point.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 10, 2016 at St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Tennis Center)
#50 Francis Marion 5, #14 Flagler 4
Singles competition
1. #26 Kevin Gonzalez (FLG) def. #23 Richard Ashforth (FMU) 6-2, 6-3
2. #34 Hermann Gertmann (FLG) def. Robin Hoek (FMU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
3. Lukas Storck (FLG) def. Philipp Sluga (FMU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Willy Hasselberg (FLG) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Lennart Luneborg (FLG) 6-4, 6-2
6. Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Daniel Arrien (FLG) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. #5 Kevin Gonzalez/Lukas Storck (FLG) 9-7
2. Tarass Thevenaz/Robin Hoek (FMU) def. Hermann Gertmann/Konstantin Dustmann (FLG) 9-7
3. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Lennart Luneborg/Willy Hasselberg (FLG) 8-6
Match Notes: Francis Marion 12-6, 3-4 PBC; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #10
Flagler 9-10, 3-4 PBC; National ranking #14; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,3,2,5,6,4)
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 10, 2016 at St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Tennis Center)
#10 Flagler 5, #32 Francis Marion 4
Singles competition
1. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. #49 Kelly Stewart (FLG) 6-2, 6-3
2. Lizanne Jinkertz (FLG) def. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) 7-5, 6-0
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Mary Jo Nanti (FLG) 6-3, 6-1
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) def. Kelly Burge (FLG) 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (10-5)
5. Laura Kelly (FLG) def. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
6. Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) def. Felicitas Runkel (FLG) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
Doubles competition
1. Mary Jo Nanti/Kelly Burge (FLG) def. Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 8-6
2. Thaisa Pereira/Kelly Stewart (FLG) def. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 8-2
3. Laura Kelly/Lizanne Jinkertz (FLG) def. Nora Westbye/Mona Piller (FMU_W) 8-3
Match Notes: Francis Marion 14-5, 5-4 PBC; National ranking #32; Regional ranking #5
Flagler 16-4, 8-1 PBC; National ranking #10; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,1,5,4,6)
