FLORENCE, SC – The 20th-ranked Francis Marion University women's tennis team defeated Augusta University 5-1 on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 3) to reach the finals of the inaugural City of Florence College Tennis Invitational where the Patriots lost a 5-1 decision to Wingate University on Saturday evening. The two-day event was held at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
Francis Marion (2-1) will play host to Queens University of Charlotte on Friday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
In the semifinal victory over Augusta, junior Marie Krueger and freshman Elisa Lang – ranked 13th nationally in doubles – and sophomore Magan Head and freshman Lesshika Vala captured doubles victories at positions No.1 and No.3 to give the Patriots a 2-1 advantage.
Krueger (ranked 37th nationally) upped the lead to 3-1 with a straight-sets (6-1, 6-3) win at No.1 singles, before Vala earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at No.6 and Head won 6-2, 6-0 at No.5 to clinch the win.
In the title match, Wingate took a 2-0 lead in doubles after a hard-fought 9-8 win (7-5 in tie-breaker) at the No.2 spot. FMU pulled to within 2-1 when Krueger and Lang also won 9-8 in a tiebreaker (7-3) at the No.1 position.
Wingate (3-0) then clinched the match with singles wins at the No.2, No.4, and No.6 positions.
Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 03, 2018 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#20 Francis Marion University 5, Augusta University 1
Singles competition
1. #37 Marie Krueger (FMU_W) def. Eva Miralles-Miro (AUGWT18) 6-1, 6-3
2. Elisa Lang (FMU_W) vs. Ana Faria (AUGWT18) 1-6, 6-4, 0-1, unfinished
3. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) vs. Merye Gobernate (AUGWT18) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished
4. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) vs. Alejandra Arranz (AUGWT18) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
5. Magan Head (FMU_W) def. Amelia Pinoargote (AUGWT18) 6-2, 6-0
6. Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) def. Maria Alice Vieira (AUGWT18) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #13 Marie Krueger/Elisa Lang (FMU_W) def. Eva Miralles-Miro/Maria Alice Vieira (AUGWT18) 8-3
2. Ana Faria/Merye Gobernate (AUGWT18) def. Sofia Henning/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 8-5
3. Magan Head/Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) def. Alejandra Arranz/Amelia Pinoargote (AUGWT18) 8-4
Match Notes: Augusta University 1-1
Francis Marion University 2-0; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,6,5)
City of Florence College Tennis Invitational (Semifinals)
Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 03, 2018 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
Wingate University 5, #20 Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. #37 Marie Krueger (FMU_W) vs. Michela Verpelli (WU) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished
2. Claudia De Andreis (WU) def. Elisa Lang (FMU_W) 6-3, 6-1
3. Sofia Henning (FMU_W) vs. Chyi Lee (WU) 4-6, 2-3, unfinished
4. Oroma Womeodu (WU) def. Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 6-1, 6-3
5. Magan Head (FMU_W) vs. Marisa Ostoja (WU) 6-4, 1-5, unfinished
6. Sydney Homan (WU) def. Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #13 Marie Krueger/Elisa Lang (FMU_W) def. Michela Verpelli/Meredith Lee (WU) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Sydney Homan/Claudia De Andreis (WU) def. Sofia Henning/Anna Wintrich (FMU_W) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Oroma Womeodu/Chyi Lee (WU) def. Magan Head/Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) 8-4
Match Notes: Wingate University 3-0; Regional ranking #7
Francis Marion University 2-1; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,6,4)
City of Florence College Tennis Invitational (Championship Match)
