FLORENCE, SC – The nationally ranked Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams both lost narrow 5-4 decisions to Flagler College on Friday afternoon (Feb. 24), with both contests going down to the final singles match.
Both Patriots tennis teams will host nationally Top-5 ranked Armstrong State University on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
Friday's action was the PBC opener for both programs. The 18th-ranked FMU women drop to 4-3 overall, while the 27th-ranked Patriots men fall to 4-2.
In the women's match, Francis Marion trailed 2-1 after doubles action. Junior Sofia Henning and sophomore Anilu Barraza Araiza took a quick 8-1 victory at No.3, but the 12th-ranked Saints rallied to earn a pair of hard-fought 9-7 wins at No.1 and No.2 doubles.
In singles play, FMU received wins from senior Samantha Koelliker in three sets at No.1, Henning in straight sets at No.4, and sophomore Anna Wintrich in three sets at No.6 to knot the match at 4-4. However, Flagler captured the final singles match (No. 5) to decide the match.
Francis Marion led the men's match 2-1 after doubles play, but the 31st-ranked Flagler men quickly won three singles matches to go ahead 4-2. FMU junior Raul Madrid won 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 at the No.5 position and senior Jannik Roettlingsberger won at No.4 after his opponent retired in the third set to deadlock the match at 4-4.
Flagler captured the deciding point at the No.6 spot in straight sets.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 24, 2017 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#12 Flagler College 5, #18 Francis Marion University 4
Singles competition
1. Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. #44 Lizanne Jinkertz (FLG) 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Mary Jo Nanti (FLG) def. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-2
3. Kelly Burge (FLG) def. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
4. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) def. Patrycja Maslanka (FLG) 6-2, 7-5
5. Felicitas Runkel (FLG) def. Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 7-5, 6-2
6. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Hilary Hanton (FLG) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Lizanne Jinkertz/Kelly Burge (FLG) def. #21 Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 9-7
2. Mary Jo Nanti/Patrycja Maslanka (FLG) def. Eva Lieben/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 9-7
3. Sofia Henning/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) def. Hilary Hanton/Felicitas Runkel (FLG) 8-1
Match Notes: Flagler College 6-1, 1-0; National ranking #12; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 4-3, 0-1; National ranking #18; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,4,2,3,6,5)
Men's Tennis Match Results
Feb 24, 2017 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#31 Flagler College 5, #27 Francis Marion University 4
Singles competition
1. Lukas Storck (FLG) def. #18 Richard Ashforth (FMU) 7-5, 7-5
2. #24 Hermann Gertmann (FLG) def. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Luca Bolla (FLG) def. Harry Wells (FMU) 7-5, 6-3
4. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) d. Felipe Carvalho (FLG) 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 0-1 won by retirement
5. Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Konstantin Dustmann (FLG) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
6. Daniel Arrien (FLG) def. Matheo Espinoza (FMU) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Richard Ashforth/Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Lukas Storck/Felipe Carvalho (FLG) 8-6
2. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Willy Hasselberg/Luca Bolla (FLG) 8-6
3. Konstantin Dustmann/Daniel Arrien (FLG) def. Harry Wells/Matheo Espinoza (FMU) 8-6
Match Notes: Flagler College 5-2; National ranking #31; Regional ranking #7
Francis Marion University 4-2; National ranking #27; Regional ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,3,1,5,4,6)
T-5:30 A-50
