FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men's tennis team defeated the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region, Bluefield State College, 5-2 on Saturday (March 9) in non-conference action, while the FMU women defeated BSC 6-1.
The FMU men improve to 7-3, while the Patriot women up their mark to 8-3. Both squads will play host to Chowan University on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Dr. Eddie Floyd/Florence Tennis Center. Admission is free.
In the men's contest, Bluefield State (3-3) took the No.3 doubles match, but Francis Marion rallied to claim the double point with wins by juniors Mauricio Guerrero and Matheo Espinoza at No.2 by a 6-4 tally and then by sophomores William Anth-Forsberg and Charles Hutchings at No.1 by a 6-3 decision.
In singles action, BSC tied the match at 1-1 with a win at No.2, but FMU freshman Brandon Sweeney regained the lead for the Patriots with a come-from-behind 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory at No.5 over Thomas Schmeita, who is ranked No.3 in the Atlantic Region. Bluefield retied the match at 2-2 with a win at No.6 singles.
Anth-Forsberg put FMU ahead to stay with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) win at No.1 over the Atlantic Region's top-ranked player Arthur Figuiere and sophomore Matt Astell provided the clinching point at No.3 singles with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 win over the Atlantic Region's third-ranked player Giorgi Datashvili.
Guerrero accounted for Francis Marion's fifth point with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory at the No.4 position.
The Patriot women took a 1-0 lead with doubles wins by sophomores Fredrika Regner and Elisa Lang at No.1 by a 6-1 score and freshman Denise Hartmann and junior Magan Head at No.3 by a 6-3 tally.
The bottom of the Patriot line-up accounted for the clinching points as sophomore Lesshika Vala won at No.6 singles 6-2, 6-0, sophomore Nikita Berger was victorious 6-0, 6-0 at No.5, and freshman Eva Zannier won 6-3, 6-0 at No.4.
Regner (7-5, 6-0) and Hartmann (6-4, 6-3) provided the other two FMU points with wins at positions No.1 and No.2 respectively.
Men's Tennis Match Results
Mar 09, 2019 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd/Florence Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 5, Bluefield State College 2
Singles competition
1. W. Anth-Forsberg (FMU) def. Arthur Figuiere (BSTATE) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Frederik Baumadsen (BSTATE) def. Paul Meuwissen (FMU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Matt Astell (FMU) def. Giorgi Datashvili (BSTATE) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
4. Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) def. Mohamed Belcora (BSTATE) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
5. Brandon Sweeney (FMU) def. Thomas Schmeita (BSTATE) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Luke Busse (BSTATE) def. Henri Broeseler (FMU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. W. Anth-Forsberg/Charles Hutchings (FMU) def. Giorgi Datashvili/Frederik Baumadsen (BSTATE) 6-3
2. Mauricio Guerrero/Matheo Espinoza (FMU) def. Arthur Figuiere/Luke Busse (BSTATE) 6-4
3. Thomas Schmeita/Mohamed Belcora (BSTATE) def. Paul Meuwissen/Matt Astell (FMU) 6-3
Match Notes: Bluefield State College 3-3; Regional ranking #1
Francis Marion University 7-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5,6,1,3,4)
Women's Tennis Match Results
Mar 09, 2019 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd/Florence Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 6, Bluefield State College 1
Singles competition
1. Fredrika Regner (FMU_W) def. Eva Rubio (BSTATEW) 7-5, 6-0
2. Denise Hartmann (FMU_W) def. Milica Knezavic (BSTATEW) 6-4, 6-3
3. Eva Garcia (BSTATEW) def. Elisa Lang (FMU_W) 6-4, 7-5
4. Eva Zannier (FMU_W) def. Milica Krnjaja (BSTATEW) 6-3, 6-0
5. Nikita Berger (FMU_W) def. Sophie Bygrave (BSTATEW) 6-0, 6-0
6. Lesshika Vala (FMU_W) def. Paula Sa'ez (BSTATEW) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Fredrika Regner/Elisa Lang (FMU_W) def. Milica Knezavic/Milica Krnjaja (BSTATEW) 6-1
2. Eva Garcia/Sophie Bygrave (BSTATEW) def. Lesshika Vala/Nikita Berger (FMU_W) 7-5
3. Denise Hartmann/Magan Head (FMU_W) def. Eva Rubio/Paula Sa'ez (BSTATEW) 6-3
Match Notes: Bluefield State College 0-8
Francis Marion University 8-3; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,5,4,1,2,3)
