FLORENCE, SC – Both the nationally ranked Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams lost narrow quarterfinal matches to Top-20 opponents on Saturday morning (April 23) before recovering to win elimination bracket contests later in the day at the 2016 Peach Belt Conference Tennis Championships at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
The 32nd-ranked Patriots women lost a heart-breaking 5-3 decision to 19th-ranked Georgia College in their quarterfinal contest – a match that was started on Friday but suspended until Saturday morning because of rain. FMU then defeated 49th-ranked Augusta University 5-1 during afternoon play.
The 50th-ranked Francis Marion men gave 10th-ranked Columbus State University all it could handle during the quarterfinal round before the Patriots fell 5-3. FMU rebounded to down 14th-ranked Flagler College 5-2 later in the day.
Both the Patriot women (18-6) and the FMU men (15-8) will play for fifth-place on Sunday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. times respectively. Admission is free.
The women's championship and third-place matches also start at 9 a.m., while men's title match and third-place match also begin at 1 p.m.
In the afternoon win, the FMU women took two of three doubles matches from Augusta and earned relatively easy straight-set singles victories by freshman Marie Krueger at No.1, junior Samantha Koelliker at No.2, and junior Eva Lieben at No.3.
The Patriots men won at the No.1 and No.3 doubles spots against Flagler and received straight-set singles wins from freshman Tarass Thevenaz at No.5, junior Jannik Roettlingsberger at No.4, and freshman Robin Hoek at No.2 – in that order. Hoek's win came against the 34th-ranked singles player in Division II.
In the quarterfinal loss to Georgia College, the Patriot women trailed 2-1 after doubles, but rallied to knot the match at 3-3 during singles play. The comeback was started by Koelliker at the No.2 position, when she rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the opening set to capture 11 straight games and a straight-sets win.
The Bobcats took a 4-3 advantage after winning 7-6, 6-2 at No.1 singles – a match that included an 11-9 tiebreaker to decide the opening set. With FMU looking poised to tie the match at 4-4, Georgia College's Hannah Serdinia rallied from down 5-3 in the third set at the No.6 position to win 7-5 and clinch the match-deciding point. The lone unfinished singles match was also in a third set.
Despite a resounding 8-0 win by FMU's Richard Ashforth and Philipp Sluga over the nation's 10th-ranked doubles duo, the Patriots trailed Columbus State 2-1 heading into singles competition. Francis Marion drew to within 4-3 with a three-set win by Sluga at the No.3 position. However, the Cougars would clinch the match with a three-set victory at No.6 singles. The unfinished contest at No.4 was also in a third set.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 23, 2016 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#50 Francis Marion University 5, #14 Flagler College 2
Singles competition
1. #23 Richard Ashforth (FMU) vs. #34 Hermann Gertmann (FLG) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), unfinished
2. Robin Hoek (FMU) def. #34 Lukas Storck (FLG) 6-3, 6-4
3. Willy Hasselberg (FLG) def. Philipp Sluga (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
4. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) def. Lennart Luneborg (FLG) 6-4, 6-2
5. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Daniel Arrien (FLG) 6-1, 6-2
6. Raul Madrid (FMU) vs. Konstantin Dustmann (FLG) 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. #5 Kevin Gonzalez/Lukas Storck (FLG) 8-3
2. Willy Hasselberg/Lennart Luneborg (FLG) def. Tarass Thevenaz/Robin Hoek (FMU) 8-3
3. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Hermann Gertmann/Daniel Arrien (FLG) 8-5
Match Notes: Flagler College 10-14; National ranking #14; Regional ranking #8
Francis Marion University 15-8; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,4,3,2)
Peach Belt Conference Men's Tennis Tournament Elimination Match
Official: Irma Brooks
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 23, 2016 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#32 Francis Marion University 5, #49 Augusta University 1
Singles competition
1. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Brooke Durden (AUGWT16) 6-3, 6-0
2. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Monica Gonzalez (AUGWT16) 6-1, 6-2
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Gisela Font (AUGWT16) 6-0, 6-1
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) vs. Maria C. Pimentel (AUGWT16) 6-3, 3-0, unfinished
5. Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) vs. Maria Nadal (AUGWT16) 6-1, 2-5, unfinished
6. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) vs. Amelia Pinoargote (AUGWT16) 6-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Marie Krueger/Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Brooke Durden/Amelia Pinoargote (AUGWT16) 8-2
2. Maria C. Pimentel/Monica Gonzalez (AUGWT16) def. Mona Piller/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 8-4
3. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Maria Nadal/Gisela Font (AUGWT16) 8-6
Match Notes: Augusta University 13-11; National ranking #49
Francis Marion University 18-6; National ranking #32; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,1)
Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Elimination Match
T-3:14
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 23, 2016 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#10 Columbus State University 5, #50 Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. #30 KP Pannu (CSU-M) def. #23 Richard Ashforth (FMU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
2. Marco Almorin (CSU-M) def. Robin Hoek (FMU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. Jorge Vargas (CSU-M) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Zach Whaanga (CSU-M) vs. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 3-0, unfinished
5. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Maciej Kierkus (CSU-M) 6-2, 6-3
6. Benedikt Wilde (CSU-M) def. Raul Madrid (FMU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. #10 Marco Almorin/Maciej Kierkus (CSU-M) 8-0
2. Zach Whaanga/KP Pannu (CSU-M) def. Tarass Thevenaz/Robin Hoek (FMU) 8-3
3. Jorge Vargas/Martynas Zakaitis (CSU-M) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) 8-3
Match Notes: Francis Marion University 14-8; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #6
Columbus State University 16-4; National ranking #10; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,2,1,3,6)
Peach Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Match #7
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 22, 2016 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#19 Georgia College 5, #32 Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. Camille Clausse-Pujo (GC-W) def. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 7-6 (11-9), 6-2
2. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Macy Polk (GC-W) 7-5, 6-0
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Jena Kelly (GC-W) 6-4, 7-5
4. Cristalei Polk (GC-W) vs. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-3, 3-6, 1-2, unfinished
5. Katie Krupp (GC-W) def. Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 6-4, 6-1
6. Hannah Serdinia (GC-W) def. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 6-1, 5-7, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Marie Krueger/Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Jena Kelly/Katie Krupp (GC-W) 8-6
2. Macy Polk/Camille Clausse-Pujo (GC-W) def. Mona Piller/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 8-2
3. Emma Niemi/Hannah Serdinia (GC-W) def. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 8-6
Match Notes: Francis Marion University 17-6; National ranking #32; Regional ranking #5
Georgia College 20-6; National ranking #19; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,5,3,1,6)
Peach Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Match #2
Started on April 22 and finished on April 23
Peach Belt Conference 2016 Men's and Women's Tennis Championships Schedule
Friday, April 22
Match 1 Women's Quarterfinal #1 Armstrong State def. #8 Augusta 5-0
Match 3 Women's Quarterfinal #3 Flagler def. #6 USC Aiken 5-0
Saturday, April 23
Match 2 Women's Quarterfinal #4 Georgia College def. #5 Francis Marion 5-3
Match 4 Women's Quarterfinal #2 Columbus State def. #7 North Georgia 5-0
Match 5 Men's Quarterfinal #1 Armstrong State def. #8 USC Aiken 5-0
Match 6 Men's Quarterfinal #4 Georgia College def. #5 North Georgia 5-2
Match 7 Men's Quarterfinal #3 Columbus State def. #6 Francis Marion 5-3
Match 8 Men's Quarterfinal #2 Lander def. #7 Flagler 5-1
Match 9 Women's Semifinal #1 Armstrong State def. #4 Georgia College 5-0
Match 10 Women's Semifinal #2 Columbus State def. #3 Flagler 5-1
Match 11 Men's Semifinal #1 Armstrong State def. #4 Georgia College 5-1
Match 12 Men's Semifinal #3 Columbus State def. #2 Lander 5-4
Match 13 Women's Elimination #5 Francis Marion def. #8 Augusta 5-1
Match 14 Women's Elimination #6 USC Aiken def. #7 North Georgia 5-3
Match 15 Men's Elimination #5 North Georgia def. #8 USC Aiken 5-2
Match 16 Men's Elimination #6 Francis Marion def. #7 Flagler 5-2
Sunday, April 24
9:00 am - Match 17 Women's 5th-Place Match #5 Francis Marion vs #6 USC Aiken
9:00 am - Match 21 Women's Championship #1 Armstrong State vs #2 Columbus State
9:00 am - Match 19 Women's 3rd-Place Match #3 Flagler vs #4 Georgia College
1:00 pm - Match 18 Men's 5th-Place Match #5 North Georgia vs #6 Francis Marion
1:00 pm - Match 20 Men's 3rd-Place Match #2 Lander vs #4 Georgia College
1:00 pm - Match 22 Men's Championship #1 Armstrong State vs #3 Columbus State
