FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men's tennis team defeated local-rival Coker College 4-1, but then lost to Barton College 4-2 on Saturday (Feb. 4) to place sixth at the annual City of Florence Invitational Tournament.
 
Francis Marion (1-3) will return to the courts at Augusta University on Saturday, Feb. 11, for a 1 p.m. match.
 
The match against Coker was started in the cold at 9 a.m., and in an effort to get all matches in, they played the singles competition first.
 
Sophomore Harri Lloyd-Evans (6-1, 6-4) and junior Liam Day (6-4, 6-2) gave the Patriots a 2-0 advantage with wins at positions No.2 and No.1 in that order.  Coker trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a three-set victory at No.4. singles.
 
FMU sophomore Martin Barbera was victorious at the No.3 spot by a 6-2, 7-5 score and sophomore Austin Vienna clinched the match for FMU with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at No.5 singles – his second career collegiate win.
 
In the fifth-place match against Barton (2-2), the sides returned to the normal routine of playing doubles first and then singles.
 
Day and junior Leonel Gonzalez gave the Patriots an early advantage with a quick 6-1 victory at No.1 doubles, but the Bulldogs won both the No.2 and 3 positions to claim the doubles point and a 1-0 margin.
 
Barbera evened the match at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No.3 singles.  After Barton went back ahead with a victory at the No.4 spot, Day claimed a 6-3, 6-3 decision at No.1 singles to again even the match, this time at 2-2.
 
However, Barton then earned two hard-fought victories at No.6 and No.2 singles by 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 and 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 counts to grab the match win.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
02/04/2023 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd/Florence Tennis Center)
Francis Marion University 4, Coker University 1
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. Andy Huynh (COKER) 6-4, 6-2
2. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Tom Lamers (COKER) 6-1, 6-4
3. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Thibaut Decalowe (COKER) 6-2, 7-5
4. Samuel Winter (COKER) def. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-0
5. Austin Vienna (FMU) def. Bernardo Peralta (COKER) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Niklas Plath (FMU) vs. Torben Brinkmann (COKER) 2-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) vs. Thibaut Decalowe/Samuel Winter (COKER) unfinished
2. Martin Barbera/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) vs. Andy Huynh/Tom Lamers (COKER) unfinished
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Adam Ernberg (FMU) vs. Bernardo Peralta/Torben Brinkmann (COKER) unfinished
 
Match Notes:  Coker University 0-2
Francis Marion University 1-2
Order of finish: Doubles (did not play); Singles (2,1,4,3,5)  
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
02/04/2023 at Florence, SC (Dr. Eddie Floyd/Florence Tennis center)
Barton College 4, Francis Marion University 2
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. Hannes Tylehed (BARTON) 6-3, 6-3
2. Johan Holgersson (BARTON) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
3. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Felipe Mioch (BARTON) 6-2, 6-3
4. G. Busquets Brau (BARTON) def. Austin Vienna (FMU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) vs. Brad Beck (BARTON) 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 3-1, unfinished
6. Deni Furtado Brienic (BARTON) def. Adam Ernberg (FMU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Felipe Mioch/Wilhelm Karlsson (BARTON) 6-1
2. Hannes Tylehed/Johan Holgersson (BARTON) def. Martin Barbera/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-3
3. Filip Forsberg/Brad Beck (BARTON) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Adam Ernberg (FMU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:  Barton College 2-2
Francis Marion University 1-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,4,1,6,2)
City of Florence Invitational Fifth-Place Match