FLORENCE, SC – The 32nd-ranked Francis Marion University women's tennis team defeated 50th-ranked USC Aiken 5-2 to capture the fifth-place match at the 2016 Peach Belt Conference Tennis Championships, Sunday (April 24) at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
Francis Marion improves to 19-6 on the season and will now await the May 3 announcement of the NCAA Division II National Tournament field to see if it will earn an at-large invitation.
On Sunday, FMU captured 8-1 doubles wins at the No.1 (Marie Krueger and Samantha Koelliker) and No.3 (Eva Lieben and Anna Wintrich) positions to carry a 2-1 advantage into singles play.
Wintrich upped the margin to 3-1 with a 6-1 6-3 victory at No.6 singles and freshman Anilu Barraza Araiza followed with a 6-3 6-3 win at the No.5 slot to push the Patriots ahead 4-1. The Pacers (15-9) won at the No.2 position before Lieben clinched the match for FMU with a 6-4 6-2 victory at No.3.
Lieben improves her season singles mark to a team-best 20-4, while the All-Conference doubles team of Krueger and Koelliker up their season mark to 22-3.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 24, 2016 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#32 Francis Marion University 5, #50 USC Aiken 2
Singles competition
1. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) vs. #29 Nadine Tusiama (USCA) 2-6, 6-3, 0-1, unfinished
2. Olivera Veskovac (USCA) def. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-2
3. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Kayla Calvert (USCA) 6-4, 6-2
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) vs. Victoria Giannaccini (USCA) 6-2, 5-0, unfinished
5. Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) def. Marie Habiyaremye (USCA) 6-3, 6-3
6. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Sarah Bernos (USCA) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Marie Krueger/Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. Nadine Tusiama/Olivera Veskovac (USCA) 8-1
2. Sarah Bernos/Marie Habiyaremye (USCA) def. Mona Piller/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 8-3
3. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Kayla Calvert/Victoria Giannaccini (USCA) 8-1
Match Notes:
USC Aiken 15-9; National ranking #50; Regional ranking #7
Francis Marion University 19-6; National ranking #32; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,5,2,3)
Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament 5th-Place Match
Official: William Oliver T-3:05
