FLORENCE, SC – Freshman Sophia Hansen earned a 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) win at No.4 singles to clinch a split of two matches for the Francis Marion University women's tennis team on the opening day of the Raines Company City of Florence Invitational Tournament, Saturday (Feb. 5) at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
 
The Patriots opened with a 5-0 defeat at the hands of unbeaten Newberry College (6-0), but rebounded to beat Barton College 4-1, giving first-year head coach Jay Evans his initial win at the helm of the Patriot program.
 
Francis Marion (1-1) will play the University of Mount Olive in the tournament's fifth-place match on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
Newberry swept all three doubles matches to take an early 1-0 advantage.  The Wolves also claimed victories at singles spots No.1, 3, 4, and 6.  FMU junior Gabriel Karatantcheva was leading 6-3, 5-4 at No.2 singles when Newberry clinched the decision and play was halted.
 
In the victory over Barton, FMU registered the doubles point as freshman Kim Venghaus and sophomore Julie Martincova won 6-2 at No.2 and sophomore Camryn Cassetori and Karatantcheva won 6-1 at No.3.
 
Junior Hermon Mikael upped the Patriot advantage to 2-0 with a straight-sets 6-1, 6-1 win at No.1 singles.  The Bulldogs pulled to within 2-1 with a victory at the No.3 position before Venghaus recorded a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win at No.5 and Hansen clinched the decision.
 
Cassetori was leading 7-6 (8-6), 3-2 at No.6 singles when play was stopped.
 
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
2/5/2022 at Florence, SC
(Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
Newberry College 5, Francis Marion University 0
Singles competition
1. Zulay Castaneda (NBYWTEN) def. Hermon Mikael (FMUW) 6-4, 6-1
2. G. Karatantcheva (FMUW) vs. Judit Gonzalez (NBYWTEN) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
3. Nastassia Chamoun (NBYWTEN) def. Julie Martincova (FMUW) 6-1, 6-1
4. Amy Griffiths (NBYWTEN) def. Sophia Hansen (FMUW) 6-0, 1-6, 6-0
5. Kim Venghaus (FMUW) vs. Lucy Spice (NBYWTEN) 0-3, unfinished
6. Ish Singh (NBYWTEN) def. Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #12 Lucy Spice/Nastassia Chamoun (NBYWTEN) def. Hermon Mikael/Sophia Hansen (FMUW) 6-0
2. Amy Griffiths/Judit Gonzalez (NBYWTEN) def. Julie Martincova/Kim Venghaus (FMUW) 6-1
3. Rosie Harfield/Zulay Castaneda (NBYWTEN) def. G. Karatantcheva/Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 6-2
 
Match Notes:  Newberry College 6-0
Francis Marion University 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,1,6,4)
Raines Company City of Florence Tennis Invitational
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
2/5/2022 at Florence, SC
(Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 4, Barton College 1
Singles competition
1. Hermon Mikael (FMUW) def. Eimear Maher (BCW) 6-1, 6-1
2. G. Karatantcheva (FMUW) vs. Maren Kronsbein (BCW) 6-4, 2-6, 0-4, unfinished
3. Tilde Howeler (BCW) def. Julie Martincova (FMUW) 6-4, 6-1
4. Sophia Hansen (FMUW) def. Fernandez-Trabedelo (BCW) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Kim Venghaus (FMUW) def. Isabella Caballero (BCW) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
6. Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) vs. Isabella Pita (BCW) 7-6 (8-6), 3-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Hermon Mikael/Sophia Hansen (FMUW) vs. Eimear Maher/Maren Kronsbein (BCW) 1-4, unfinished
2. Kim Venghaus/Julie Martincova (FMUW) def. Tilde Howeler/Fernandez-Trabedelo (BCW) 6-2
3. Camryn Cassetori/G. Karatantcheva (FMUW) def. Yonye Nucholo/Isabella Caballero (BCW) 6-1
 
Match Notes: Barton College 0-2
Francis Marion University 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,3,5,4)
Raines Company City of Florence Invitational