FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Adam Ernberg and freshman Luis Lopez Sarasa claimed a hard-fought and key win at No.3 doubles and freshman Harri Lloyd-Evans later served up the clinching singles win with a victory at the No.2 position as Francis Marion University defeated West Virginia Wesleyan College 6-1, Monday afternoon (March 7) in non-conference men's tennis action.
 
Francis Marion ups its record to 6-2.  The Patriots were to have played the University of Southern Indiana on Wednesday, but that match has been canceled because of the threat of rain.  FMU will return to action on March 19 for its first-ever Conference Carolinas match, a 2 p.m. first serve at Chowan University.
 
Monday's win came at the expense of first-year Patriot head coach Jay Evans' former school.
 
After sophomores Liam Day and Leonel Gonzalez quickly won 6-1 at the top doubles spot, Ernberg and Lopez Sarasa were victorious 7-5 at the No.3 position to earn the doubles point for FMU.  Freshmen Martin Barbera and Harri Lloyd-Evans later won the No.2 doubles match by the same 7-5 margin.
 
Gonzalez upped the Francis Marion lead to 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No.4 singles, while Day won 6-4, 6-2 at No.1 and Lloyd-Evans won 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 at No.3 to clinch the match for the Patriots.
 
Two additional FMU wins later came at No.3 and No.5 singles with Barbera winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and sophomore David Bodson winning 6-2, 6-3 respectively.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
3/7/2022 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Francis Marion University 6, West Virginia Wesleyan College 1
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. Taylor Papworth (WVWC) 6-4, 6-2
2. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Khiro Karasawa (WVWC) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
3. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Camillo Salvi (WVWC) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Nicolas Zumba (WVWC) 6-2, 6-0
5. Anthony McIntosh (WVWC) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
6. David Bodson (FMU) def. C. Garces Granero (WVWC) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Camillo Salvi/Khiro Karasawa (WVWC) 6-1
2. Martin Barbera/Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Taylor Papworth/C. Garces Granero (WVWC) 7-5
3. Adam Ernberg/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Anthony McIntosh/Nicolas Zumba (WVWC) 7-5
 
Match Notes: West Virginia Wesleyan College 4-3
Francis Marion University 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,1,2,3,5,6)