FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to Flagler College on Saturday (March 16), while the Patriot men's squad lost to the 15th-ranked Saints men 7-0 in Peach Belt Conference tennis action.

The FMU women fall to 9-4 overall and 0-2 in the Peach Belt, while the men drop to 8-4 and 0-2.  The Patriot women will host West Virginia State University in a non-conference match on Sunday afternoon (March 17) at 1 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.

On the women's side, Flagler, who entered the weekend ranked seventh in the latest ITA Southeast Region poll, swept all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 edge into singles play. Sophomore Fredrika Regner quickly evened the match for FMU with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at the No. 1 singles position.

Flagler responded with straight-set wins at No. 2, No. 5, No. 3, and No. 4 singles to clinch the victory. The Saints completed the match with a three-set victory at the No. 6 spot.

Ranked 15th nationally and third in the latest region poll, Flagler again earned the doubles point in the men's match with three close victories.

Straight-set victories at the No. 4, No. 5, and top singles positions clinched the win for the Saints. FMU sophomore Charles Hutchings forced a third set at No. 6 singles before succumbing in the decisive set. Patriots' junior Mauricio Guerrero stretched his match at No. 3 singles into a first-set tiebreaker before also eventually dropping the contest.

Women's Tennis Match Results
Mar 16, 2019 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Flagler College 6, Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. Fredrika Regner (FMU_W) def. Felicitas Runkel (FLG) 6-0, 6-2
2. Eden Schlagenhauf (FLG) def. Denise Hartmann (FMU_W) 6-4, 6-2
3. Anika Nissen (FLG) def. Elisa Lang (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-2
4. Lixin Wang (FLG) def. Eva Zannier (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-2
5. Alessandra Traub (FLG) def. Nikita Berger (FMU_W) 6-1, 6-1
6. Paloma Martinez (FLG) def. Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)
Doubles competition
1. Alessandra Traub/Paloma Martinez (FLG) def. Fredrika Regner/Elisa Lang (FMU_W) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Eden Schlagenhauf/Felicitas Runkel (FLG) def. Lesshika Vala/Nikita Berger (FMU_W) 7-5
3. Lixin Wang/Anika Nissen (FLG) def. Denise Hartmann/Magan Head (FMU_W) 6-0

Match Notes:
Flagler College 7-4 , 2-0 PBC; Regional ranking #7
Francis Marion University 9-4 , 0-2 PBC; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2,5,3,4,6)

Men's Tennis Match Results
Mar 16, 2019 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#15 Flagler College 7, Francis Marion University 0
Singles competition
1. Lukas Storck (FLG) def. W. Anth-Forsberg (FMU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rasmus Jonsson (FLG) def. Paul Meuwissen (FMU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Luca Bolla (FLG) def. Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
4. Felipe Carvalho (FLG) def. Brandon Sweeney (FMU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Daniel Arrien (FLG) def. Matheo Espinoza (FMU) 6-0, 6-4
6. Konstantin Dustmann (FLG) def. Charles Hutchings (FMU) 6-1, 1-6, 3-1, retired
Doubles competition
1. Lukas Storck/Konstantin Dustmann (FLG) def. W. Anth-Forsberg/Charles Hutchings (FMU) 6-4
2. Rasmus Jonsson/Felipe Carvalho (FLG) def. Matheo Espinoza/Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 6-4
3. Daniel Arrien/Luca Bolla (FLG) def. Paul Meuwissen/Matt Astell (FMU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Flagler College 9-3 , 2-0 PBC; National ranking #15; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 8-4 , 0-2 PBC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (,4,5,1,6,3,2)
T-2:47