FLORENCE, SC – Both of the nationally ranked Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams extended their winning streaks with Peach Belt Conference victories over Augusta University, Saturday afternoon (April 2) on the Kassab Courts. Sophomore Raul Madrid won the final singles match (No.6) to give the 50th-ranked Patriot men a 5-4 win over the 20th-ranked Jaguars, while the 32nd-ranked FMU women rallied for a 6-3 victory over 49th-ranked Augusta.
The FMU men pick up their first PBC win of the season, extend their winning streak to five contests, and improve to 10-5 overall. The Patriot women are now 14-2 overall, 5-1 in the Peach Belt play, and have won 11 consecutive matches.
Both teams will entertain Georgia College on Sunday (April 3) at 11 a.m. Admission is free. The Georgia College men and women are ranked 13th and 19th respectively.
In the men's match, Francis Marion rallied from a 2-1 deficit after doubles play. Straight-set singles wins by 23rd-ranked Richard Ashforth (No.1), freshman Philipp Sluga (No.3), and freshman Tarass Thevenaz (No.5) knotted the match at 4-4. Madrid then fought off three set points in the opening set and won 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreaker) and 6-2 to clinch the Patriot win.
Ashforth's win at the top spot came against 11th-ranked Patrick Oliveira by scores of 6-4 and 6-3.
The Patriot women also trailed 2-1 after doubles play. Four straight singles wins at the top four positions propelled FMU to the needed five points. Junior Samantha Koelliker won 6-2, 6-0 at the No.2 position, followed by freshman Marie Krueger winning 6-3, 6-1 at No.1, junior Eva Lieben needing three sets to prevail 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 at No.3, and sophomore Sofia Henning picking up the deciding win 6-1, 6-3 at No.4.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 02, 2016 at Florence, SC(Kassab Courts)
#50 Francis Marion University 5, #20 Augusta University 4
Singles competition
1. #23 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. #11 Patrick Oliveira (AUGMT16) 6-4, 6-3
2. Joao Ferreira (AUGMT16) def. Robin Hoek (FMU) 1-6, 6-0, 6-1
3. Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. Moritz Gehlhaus (AUGMT16) 6-3, 6-2
4. Thomas Sevel (AUGMT16) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
5. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Arthur Andrade (AUGMT16) 6-3, 6-4
6. Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Joao Gabriel Freitas (AUGMT16) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. Patrick Oliveira/Nameer Shamsi (AUGMT16) 8-4
2. Thomas Sevel/Moritz Gehlhaus (AUGMT16) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) 9-7
3. Joao Ferreira/Joao Gabriel Freitas (AUGMT16) def. Tarass Thevenaz/Robin Hoek (FMU) 8-6
Match Notes: Augusta University 13-4 , 3-4; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #6
Francis Marion University 10-5 , 1-3; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5,6)
T-5:25
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 02, 2016 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#32 Francis Marion University 6, #49 Augusta University 3
Singles competition
1. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Brooke Durden (AUGWT16) 6-3, 6-1
2. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Monica Gonzalez (AUGWT16) 6-2, 6-0
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Maria C. Pimentel (AUGWT16) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) def. Gisela Font (AUGWT16) 6-1, 6-3
5. Maria Nadal (AUGWT16) def. Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 4-6, 6-3, 10-6
6. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Amelia Pinoargote (AUGWT16) 6-0, retired
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Brooke Durden/Amelia Pinoargote (AUGWT16) 8-2
2. Monica Gonzalez/Maria C. Pimentel (AUGWT16) def. Anna Wintrich/Eva Lieben (FMU_W) 8-5
3. Gisela Font/Maria Nadal (AUGWT16) def. Anilu Barraza Araiza/Mona Piller (FMU_W) 9-8 (11-9)
Match Notes: Augusta University 12-7, 4-5; National ranking #49; Regional ranking #9
Francis Marion University 14-2, 5-1; National ranking #32; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,3,4,6,5)
