BELMONT, NC – In a battle for first-place in Conference Carolinas, 25th-ranked Belmont Abbey College squeaked out a 7-0 win over 38th-ranked Francis Marion University on Friday afternoon (April 8) in a men's tennis match that was closer than the final score indicated. 
 
The loss ended FMU's 10-match winning streak – its longest since the 2006 season – and dropped the Patriots to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.  Francis Marion will play at Converse University on Saturday at noon.
 
Patriot sophomores Liam Day and Leonel Gonzalez opened doubles play with a 6-3 win at the No.1 position, but the Crusaders (16-16, 6-0) rebounded with 6-3 and 6-2 victories at the No.2 and 3 positions to earn the doubles point.  Day and Gonzalez remain unbeaten this season at 12-0.
 
Belmont then captured all six singles matches, although four of them went to three sets.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
4/8/2022 at Belmont, NC (Reidy Tennis Center)
#25 Belmont Abbey College 7, #38 Francis Marion University 0
Singles competition
1. Xaveam Van Wijk (BAC) def. Liam Day (FMU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Zachary Blythe (BAC) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. Nelson Stafford (BAC) def. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) 7-5, 6-1
4. Kent Shiell (BAC) def. Martin Barbera (FMU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
5. Nicholas Cary (BAC) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
6. Kai Lloveras (BAC) def. Adam Ernberg (FMU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Nicholas Cary/Xaveam Van Wijk (BAC) 6-3
2. Nelson Stafford/Zachary Blythe (BAC) def. Martin Barbera/Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 6-3
3. Alex Turner/Andres Golindano (BAC) def. Adam Ernberg/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-2
 
Match Notes:  Francis Marion University 10-3 , 4-1; National ranking #38
Belmont Abbey College 16-16 , 6-0; National ranking #25
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,3,6,5,2,4)