FLORENCE, SC – The top-10 ranked Columbus State University men's and women's tennis teams defeated Francis Marion University on Saturday afternoon (April 1), winning the women's match 6-3 and the men's contest 8-1.
The 37th-ranked Patriot women saw their four-match winning streak snapped as they fall to 9-6 overall and 5-4 in the Peach Belt. The conference-leading and seventh-ranked CSU women improve to 15-2 and 10-0.
The Francis Marion men are now 5-7 overall and 1-6 in conference play, while the ninth-ranked Cougar men move to 16-1 and 8-1.
Both FMU squads will make a quick return to the Kassab Courts as they host Georgia Southwestern State University on Sunday (April 2) at 11 a.m.
In the women's match, the Cougars captured all three doubles points, although both the first and third position matches were decided by narrow 8-6 margins.
The Patriots then earned singles wins at spots No.1, where 25th-ranked Samantha Koelliker beat 21st-ranked Giorgia Vitale 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 10-3; No. 2, where sophomore Marie Krueger upset 29th-ranked Kirsa Utech 6-0, 7-5; and No.6, where freshman Theresa Hammerschlag won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
For Koelliker, it was her 59th career singles victory.
As in the women's contest, the Patriot men played tough in doubles action, dropping all three points but by 8-6 counts at positions two and three.
Senior Richard Ashforth, ranked 24th in NCAA Division II singles, earned FMU's lone point with a 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 10-8 win at the top spot over 43rd-ranked KP Pannu.
Two other Patriots, senior Jannik Roettlingsberger and freshman Matheo Espinoza, batted to a tie-breaker after splitting two sets at positions No.2 and No.5.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 1, 2017 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#7 Columbus State University 6, #37 Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. #25 Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) def. #21 Giorgia Vitale (CSU-W) 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 10-3
2. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. #29 Kirsa Utech (CSU-W) 6-0, 7-5
3. Camila Tobar (CSU-W) def. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) 7-5, 6-1
4. Beatriz Leon (CSU-W) def. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-4, 6-1
5. Olivera Tadijin (CSU-W) def. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 6-4, 7-5
6. Theresa Hammerschlag (FMU_W) def. Saravinder Pannu (CSU-W) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #19 Camila Tobar/Giorgia Vitale (CSU-W) def. Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 8-6
2. Beatriz Leon/Olivera Tadijin (CSU-W) def. Eva Lieben/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) 8-3
3. Kirsa Utech/Rachael Williams (CSU-W) def. Sofia Henning/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 8-6
Match Notes: Columbus State University 15-2, 10-0 PBC; National ranking #7; Regional ranking #2
Francis Marion University 9-6, 5-4 PBC; National ranking #37; Regional ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,4,2,1,5,6)
Men's Tennis Match Results
Apr 1, 2017 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#9 Columbus State University 8, Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. #24 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. #43 KP Pannu (CSU-M) 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 10-8
2. Zach Whaanga (CSU-M) def. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 3-6, 6-3, 10-6
3. Paul Sprengelmeijer (CSU-M) def. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Matei Avram (CSU-M) def. Raul Madrid (FMU) 6-0, 6-3
5. Jorge Vargas (CSU-M) def. Matheo Espinoza (FMU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 10-3
6. Shao-Yu Yu (CSU-M) def. Harry Wells (FMU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. KP Pannu/Maciej Kierkus (CSU-M) def. Richard Ashforth/J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) 8-3
2. Zach Whaanga/Matei Avram (CSU-M) def. Henri Broeseler/Matheo Espinoza (FMU) 8-6
3. Paul Sprengelmeijer/Jorge Vargas (CSU-M) def. Raul Madrid/Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) 8-6
Match Notes:
Columbus State University 16-1, 8-1 PBC; National ranking #9; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 5-7, 1-6 PBC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,4,2,1,6,5)
