FLORENCE, SC – Senior Eva Lieben and sophomore Anilu Barraza Araiza captured a tie-breaking point at No.2 doubles and Lieben later won her singles match as fifth-seeded and 37th-ranked Francis Marion University surprised fourth-seeded and 36th-ranked University of North Georgia 5-1, Friday morning (April 21) in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
The 13-7 Patriots advance to face top-seeded and seventh-ranked Columbus State University in one of Saturday's semifinal matches at 9 a.m. In other quarterfinal matches on Friday, CSU beat USC Aiken 5-0, Armstrong State University defeated Georgia College 5-0, and Flagler College downed Young Harris College 6-0.
Admission to the event is free.
FMU is ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Southeast region poll.
In doubles play, junior Sofia Henning and sophomore Anna Wintrich gave Francis Marion a 1-0 advantage with an 8-5 victory at No.3 doubles. Senior Samantha Koelliker and sophomore Marie Krueger dropped a narrow 8-6 count at the No.1 position to even the match at 1-1. Lieben and Barraza Araiza led 7-4 at No.3 before holding on for the 8-6 victory.
Krueger upped the Patriot advantage to 3-1 with 6-2, 6-2 win at No.3 singles. Lieben won 6-4, 6-1 at No.2 and then freshman Theresa Hammerschlag gained the clinching point with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the No.6 spot.
FMU netters were up a set at the No.1 and No.5 positions when the match concluded.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Apr 21, 2017 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#37 Francis Marion University 5, #36 University of North Georgia 1
Singles competition
1. #33 Kathrin Waidner (UNGW) vs. #25 Samantha Koelliker (FMU_W) 6-7 (4-7), 5-4, unfinished
2. Eva Lieben (FMU_W) def. Felicia Baratta (UNGW) 6-4, 6-1
3. Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Karina Gurgenyan (UNGW) 6-2, 6-2
4. Holly Bennett (UNGW) vs. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
5. Lexa Loden (UNGW) vs. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 5-7, 4-5, unfinished
6. Theresa Hammerschlag (FMU_W) def. Emma Etelalahti (UNGW) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Kathrin Waidner/Felicia Baratta (UNGW) def. Samantha Koelliker/Marie Krueger (FMU_W) 8-6
2. Eva Lieben/Anilu Barraza Araiza (FMU_W) def. Holly Bennett/Emma Etelalahti (UNGW) 8-6
3. Sofia Henning/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) def. Karina Gurgenyan/Lexa Loden (UNGW) 8-5
Match Notes: Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament quarterfinal match 2
Seeds: North Georgia #4, Francis Marion #5
Francis Marion University 13-7; National ranking #37; Regional ranking #5
University of North Georgia 19-6; National ranking #36; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,6)
T-3:20
