FLORENCE, SC – The 50th-ranked Francis Marion University men's tennis team fell to 22nd-ranked University of North Georgia 5-1 in the fifth-place match of the 2016 Peach Belt Conference Tennis Championships, Sunday afternoon (April 24) at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
The Patriots drop to 15-9 and must now await the May 3 announcement of the NCAA Division II National Tournament field to see if they will earn an at-large invitation.
The All-Conference doubles team of Richard Ashforth and Philipp Sluga won 8-5 at No.1 doubles, but the Patriots dropped 8-5 and 8-4 decisions at the other two doubles slots.
The Nighthawks (17-7) captured straight-set single wins at spots No.2, 4, and 6 to close out the match.
The Patriots' 15 wins represents a six-win improvement over the team's 2015 victory total.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 24, 2016 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#22 University of North Georgia 5, #50 Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. Philipp Mueller (UNGM) vs. #23 Richard Ashforth (FMU) 7-6 (7-5), 5-6, unfinished
2. Niklas Zielen (UNGM) def. Robin Hoek (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Alexander Reinauer (UNGM) vs. Philipp Sluga (FMU) 7-5, 2-4, unfinished
4. Hugues Renald (UNGM) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Lukas Moritzen (UNGM) vs. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) 5-7, 6-2, 2-1, unfinished
6. Andre Canino (UNGM) def. Raul Madrid (FMU) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Philipp Sluga (FMU) def. Philipp Mueller/Niklas Zielen (UNGM) 8-5
2. Lukas Moritzen/Andre Canino (UNGM) def. Tarass Thevenaz/Robin Hoek (FMU) 8-5
3. Matheus Pineda/Graham Shaw (UNGM) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) 8-4
Match Notes:
Francis Marion University 15-9; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #6
University of North Georgia 17-7; National ranking #22; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,6,4)
Peach Belt Conference Men's Tennis Tournament 5th-Place Match
Official: William Oliver T-3:29
