FLORENCE, SC – Junior Gabriel Karatantcheva and sophomore Camryn Cassetori rallied to win the doubles point for Francis Marion University and the Patriots used that come-from-behind victory as a springboard for a 6-1 Conference Carolinas win over visiting Erskine College, Friday afternoon (March 25) in women's tennis play.
 
FMU improves to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play with its sixth straight win.  It will be a quick turn-around for the Patriot women as they will host Emmanuel College (Ga.) on Saturday morning (March 26) at 11 a.m. The 35th-ranked FMU men will also entertain Emmanuel at 11 a.m. on the Kassab Courts.
 
After Erskine captured a win at the No.1 doubles position, FMU sophomore Julie Martincova and freshman Kim Venghaus earned a 6-3 victory at the No.2 slot.  The doubles point came down to the No.3 spot where Karatantcheva and Cassetori rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win 7-5 and put Francis Marion up 1-0 heading into singles action.
 
The pair have posted an 8-2 mark in doubles action in 2022.
 
Karatantcheva quickly upped that advantage to 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No.3 singles.  Freshman Paige Wise, the reigning conference Player of the Week, remained unbeaten on the season (6-0) with a 6-0, 7-5 victory at the top singles position and Martincova earned the match-clinching point with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win at No.4 singles.
 
FMU senior Hermon Mikael (7-5, 6-3) and freshman Sophia Hansen (6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-6)) followed with victories at No.2 and 5 singles respectively to account for Francis Marion's final tally.
 
Karatantcheva's season mark for singles action is now 6-1, while Hansen is 7-2.
 
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
3/25/2022 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Francis Marion University 6, Erskine College 1
Singles competition
1. Paige Wise (FMUW) def. Emma Bentz (ERSKINE) 6-0, 7-5
2. Hermon Mikael (FMUW) def. Szilvia Ferenczy (ERSKINE) 7-5, 6-3
3. G. Karatantcheva (FMUW) def. Luize Valtere (ERSKINE) 6-2, 6-2
4. Julie Martincova (FMUW) def. Czarina Aguirre (ERSKINE) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Sophia Hansen (FMUW) def. Rupal Kharb (ERSKINE) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-6)
6. Angelina Jacobs (ERSKINE) def. Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10)
Doubles competition
1. Emma Bentz/Luize Valtere (ERSKINE) def. Paige Wise/Hermon Mikael (FMUW) 6-3
2. Julie Martincova/Kim Venghaus (FMUW) def. Szilvia Ferenczy/Madison Clayton (ERSKINE) 6-3
3. G. Karatantcheva/Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) def. Czarina Aguirre/Angelina Jacobs (ERSKINE) 7-5
 
Match Notes:  Erskine College 3-7 , 1-1
Francis Marion University 7-3 , 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,1,4,2,5,6)