FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men's tennis team outlasted Newberry College for a 5-3 win on Saturday evening (Feb. 3) to claim the third-place match at the inaugural City of Florence College Tennis Invitational, held this weekend at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center. Earlier in the day, FMU lost to Wingate University 5-0 in the semifinals.
Francis Marion (2-2) will play host to Queens University of Charlotte on Friday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
FMU fared well against the Bulldogs despite losing in the semifinals. Two of the three doubles losses were by 8-6 and 8-5 counts. In the remaining four unfinished singles matches, the Patriots led or were virtually tied.
In the victory over Newberry (2-1), the freshmen duo of William Anth-Forsberg and Charles Hutchings won 8-4 at No.1 doubles, while sophomores Mauricio Guerrero and Matheo Espinoza gained a hard-fought 9-8 (7-2) decision at No.2 to give FMU a 2-1 advantage. Guerrero and Espinoza fought off three match points before becoming victorius.
The Wolves evened the match at 2-2 with a victory at No.1 singles, but Hutchings won 6-1, 6-3 at No.4 singles and Newberry claimed a straight-sets win at the No.3 spot to again level the match, this time at 3-3.
FMU freshman Paul Meuwissen went three sets (6-2, 4-6, 6-2) at the No.5 position to give the Patriots a 4-3 advantage before Guerrero clinched the win with a come-from-behind 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-2 victory at No.2 singles.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Feb 03, 2018 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
Wingate University 5, Francis Marion University 0
Singles competition
1. #31 Daniel Belsito (WU) def. W. Anth-Forsberg (FMU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Josep Canyadell (WU) def. Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
3. Matt Astell (FMU) vs. Matthew Jones (WU) 7-5, 3-6, 1-1, unfinished
4. Charles Hutchings (FMU) vs. Josh DuToit (WU) 4-6, 6-2, unfinished
5. Paul Meuwissen (FMU) vs. Enrico Giacomini (WU) 4-6, 5-2, unfinished
6. Matheo Espinoza (FMU) vs. Tamir Geva (WU) 7-5, 2-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #11 Daniel Belsito/Josh DuToit (WU) def. W. Anth-Forsberg/Charles Hutchings (FMU) 8-2
2. Duncan Addison/Josep Canyadell (WU) def. Mauricio Guerrero/Matheo Espinoza (FMU) 8-5
3. Matthew Jones/Enrico Giacomini (WU) def. Matt Astell/Henri Broeseler (FMU) 8-6
Match Notes: Wingate University 2-0; Regional ranking #9
Francis Marion University 1-2; Regional ranking #8
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2)
City of Florence College Tennis Invitational (Semifinals)
Men's Tennis Match Results
Feb 03, 2018 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 5, Newberry College 3
Singles competition
1. #42 Edison Ambarzumjan (NBY) def. W. Anth-Forsberg (FMU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) def. Jose Navarro (NBY) 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-2
3. Nikhil Mannepalli (NBY) def. Matt Astell (FMU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Charles Hutchings (FMU) def. Angel Pizarro (NBY) 6-1, 6-3
5. Paul Meuwissen (FMU) def. Jordan Monosky (NBY) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
6. Matheo Espinoza (FMU) vs. Alex Amble (NBY) 6-2, 3-6, 4-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. W. Anth-Forsberg/Charles Hutchings (FMU) def. Edison Ambarzumjan/Jose Navarro (NBY) 8-4
2. Mauricio Guerrero/Matheo Espinoza (FMU) def. Nikhil Mannepalli/Angel Pizarro (NBY) 9-8 (7-2)
3. Jordan Monosky/Alex Amble (NBY) def. Matt Astell/Henri Broeseler (FMU) 8-4
Match Notes: Newberry College 1-2
Francis Marion University 2-2; Regional ranking #9
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,4,3,5,2)
City of Florence College Tennis Invitational (Third-Place Match)
