SUMTER, SC – Despite a singles win from sophomore Liam Day at the No.1 position, fifth-seeded and 47th-ranked Francis Marion University fell 4-1 to top-seeded and 24th-ranked Belmont Abbey College, Saturday morning (April 30) in the semifinals of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament.
 
Francis Marion ends its first season under head coach Jay Evans with a 14-7 record, a 12-win improvement over the previous season.
 
The Crusaders (21-16) won both the No.1 and 2 doubles matches by 6-2 decisions to take a 1-0 advantage.
 
Belmont Abbey captured the first singles result at the No.2 position, but Day, who was named a first-team All-Conference selection earlier in the week, brought Francis Marion to within 2-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over fellow first-team selection Xaveam Van Wijk at the No.1 spot.  Day ended the year with a team-high 15 singles wins (in 19 decisions).
 
However, Belmont Abbey registered straight-sets victories at No.5 and 6 to clinch the match.  At the time the match was ended, Patriot freshman Martin Barbera did hold a slight lead at No.4 singles.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
4/30/2022 at Sumter, SC (Palmetto Tennis Center)
#24 Belmont Abbey 4, #47 Francis Marion 1
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. Xaveam Van Wijk (BAC) 6-2, 6-3
2. Zachary Blythe (BAC) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Nelson Stafford (BAC) vs. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
4. Kent Shiell (BAC) vs. Martin Barbera (FMU) 3-6, 6-3, 0-1, unfinished
5. Nicholas Cary (BAC) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Andres Golindano (BAC) def. Adam Ernberg (FMU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Nicholas Cary/Xaveam Van Wijk (BAC) def. Leonel Gonzalez/Liam Day (FMU) 6-2
2. Nelson Stafford/Zachary Blythe (BAC) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Martin Barbera (FMU) 6-2
3. Andres Golindano/Alex Turner (BAC) vs. Adam Ernberg/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 5-1, unfinished
 
Match Notes: Francis Marion 14-7; National ranking #47
Belmont Abbey 21-16; National ranking #24
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,1,6,5)
#1 Belmont Abbey 4 #5 Francis Marion 1
T-1:55