FLORENCE, SC – Four Francis Marion University tennis players won their singles flight at the recent Coker University Invitational Tournament, hosted at the Dr. Eddie Floyd/Florence Tennis Center on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

In men's competition, FMU swept the three singles flight titles as junior Martin Barbera was victorious at the A flight, senior Leonel Gonzalez won the B Flight, and freshman Ben Scott won the C Flight.

Barbera defeated Enzo Garutti of Augusta University 6-2, 6-2 to complete his 3-0 weekend.  Gonzalez downed FMU teammate and junior Luis Lopez Sarasa in his title match 6-2, 6-2, while Scott rallied to beat Leopold Morel of Converse University 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the C Flight championship match.

On the women's side, graduate student Julie Martincova won the B Flight by rallying to down Camila Taborga in three sets in the title match.

Patriot sophomore Chelsea Seidewitz finished second in the A Flight after dropping a close decision in the championship contest, and freshman Polina Gontaryk won the third-place match in the A Flight 6-4, 6-3 over Emerson Banning of Coker.  Freshman Mia Koepf placed third in the C Flight.

Doubles play consisted of three flights with round-robin competition. 

The women's duo of Seidewitz and senior Gabriel Karatantcheva shared the A Flight title by going 2-1 over the weekend, while junior Kim Venghaus and Gontaryk won the B Flight crown with a 3-0 mark.  Lopez Sarasa and junior Austin Vienna shared the men's B Flight doubles title with a 2-1 mark. 

Both Francis Marion squads, under the direction of third-year head coach Jay Evans, will open their 2024 seasons at the PTR Collegiate Cup on Feb. 3-4 in Wesley Chapel, Fla.