FLORENCE, SC – Despite the return of sophomore Gabriel Karatantcheva, the Francis Marion University women's tennis team lost a narrow 4-3 non-conference match to the University of Mount Olive on Friday afternoon (March 5).
 
FMU (2-5) will return to Peach Belt Conference play on Friday, March 12, when the Patriots host the University of North Georgia at 1 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
 
Mount Olive (3-0) took a 1-0 advantage by winning the doubles point, capturing wins of 6-2, 6-2, and 6-4.
 
The Patriots (2-5) rallied in singles competition and pulled to within 3-2 after sophomore Hermon Mikael won 6-1, 6-4 at the No.1 position and freshman Viktoria Leth was victorious at the No.2 spot by a 6-4, 6-0 tally. 
 
However, the Trojans earned a straight-sets win at No. 3 to clinch the match.  Karatantcheva, last year's team MVP, was playing her first match of 2021 and produced FMU's final point with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No.6 singles.
 
 
Women's Tennis
3-5-2021 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
University of Mount Olive 4, Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. Hermon Mikael (FMUW) def. Liza Voloshyna (UMOW) 6-1, 6-4
2. Viktoria Leth (FMUW) def. Nele Weber (UMOW) 6-4, 6-0
3. Ece Yuksel (UMOW) def. Eva Zannier (FMUW) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Ingrid Montero (UMOW) def. Nargiza Yakhyaeva (FMUW) 6-2, 6-1
5. Arianna Orozco (UMOW) def. Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 6-3, 6-2
6. G. Karatantcheva (FMUW) def. Deike Schipper (UMOW) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Liza Voloshyna/Nele Weber (UMOW) def. Hermon Mikael/Viktoria Leth (FMUW) 6-2
2. Ingrid Montero/Deike Schipper (UMOW) def. Nargiza Yakhyaeva/Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 6-2
3. Arianna Orozco/Bipasha Mehn (UMOW) def. Eva Zannier/G. Karatantcheva (FMUW) 6-4
 
Match Notes: University of Mount Olive 3-0
Francis Marion University 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,2,5,3,6)