MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Francis Marion University captured singles wins at the final three positions, including sophomore Charles Hutchings' clinching win at the No.6 spot, as the Patriot men rallied for a 4-3 non-conference victory over the University of Mount Olive, Saturday afternoon in tennis action.  The Patriot women cruised to a 6-1 win over the Trojans.

The FMU men improve to 5-2, while the Patriot women up their mark to 6-2.  Both squads will play host to Ashland University on Monday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.

In the men's match, Mount Olive won at No.2 doubles, but freshman Brandon Sweeney and sophomore Matt Astell won 7-6 (7-5) at No.3 and sophomore William Anth-Forsberg and Hutchings earned a 7-6 (7-5) victory at No.1 to give the Patriots the doubles point.

The Trojans then took the top three singles matches to go up 3-1.  However, Sweeney won in straights sets (6-3, 6-4) at No.5, Astell rallied to win in three sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-4) at No.4, and Hutchings gave FMU the win with a 6-4, 6-2 decision at No.6.

UMO won the No.1 women's doubles match, but sophomores Elisa Lang and Lesshika Vala won 6-2 at No.3 and freshman Denise Hartmann and junior Magan Head won 6-3 at the No.2 position to give FMU a 1-0 advantage with the doubles point.

Mount Olive claimed its lone point at No.2 singles, before Lang won 7-5, 6-4 at No.3, sophomore Fredrika Regner won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at No.1, and sophomore Nikita Berger grabbed the clinching point with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No.5.

Also winning their matches were freshman Eva Zannier (6-4, 6-4) at No.4 and Vala (6-2, 6-0) at No.6.

Men's Tennis Match Results
Mar 2, 2019 at Mount Olive, N.C. (John Neal Walker Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 4, University of Mount Olive 3
Singles competition
1. Armando Ferreira (UMOM) def. Paul Meuwissen (FMU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Martin Moser (UMOM) def. W. Anth-Forsberg (FMU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Milosh Petrovic (UMOM) def. Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Matt Astell (FMU) def. Pablo Safont Ferrer (UMOM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Brandon Sweeney (FMU) def. Jack Middleton (UMOM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Charles Hutchings (FMU) def. Gustavo dos Santos (UMOM) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. W. Anth-Forsberg/Charles Hutchings (FMU) def. Armando Ferreira/Milosh Petrovic (UMOM) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Martin Moser/Pablo Safont Ferrer (UMOM) def. Matheo Espinoza/Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 6-3
3. Brandon Sweeney/Matt Astell (FMU) def. Victor Nunez/Jack Middleton (UMOM) 7-6 (7-5)

Match Notes:  Francis Marion University 5-2
University of Mount Olive 3-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,1,5,4,6)


Women's Tennis Match Results
Mar 2, 2019 at Mount Olive, N.C. (John Neal Walker Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 6, University of Mount Olive 1
Singles competition
1. Fredrika Regner (FMU_W) def. Ece Yuksel (UMOW) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
2. Lina Maria Alarcon (UMOW) def. Denise Hartmann (FMU_W) 6-2, 6-3
3. Elisa Lang (FMU_W) def. Arianna Orozco (UMOW) 7-5, 6-4
4. Eva Zannier (FMU_W) def. Deike Schipper (UMOW) 6-4, 6-4
5. Nikita Berger (FMU_W) def. Carmen Espinos (UMOW) 6-2, 6-0
6. Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) def. Maria Impalea (UMOW) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Lina Maria Alarcon/Arianna Orozco (UMOW) def. Fredrika Regner/Eva Zannier (FMU_W) 6-0
2. Denise Hartmann/Magan Head (FMU_W) def. Deike Schipper/Carmen Espinos (UMOW) 6-3
3. Elisa Lang/Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) def. Ece Yuksel/Rosario Bove (UMOW) 6-2

Match Notes: Francis Marion University 6-2; Regional ranking #10
University of Mount Olive 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,5,4,6)