FLORENCE, SC – Forty-fourth ranked Francis Marion University swept all three doubles matches and then captured the top five singles matches to claim a 6-1 victory over 42nd-ranked University of Mount Olive, Saturday afternoon (Mar. 18) in Conference Carolinas men's tennis action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while the Trojans drop to 6-5 and 0-1.  FMU will play at Barton College on Tuesday at 2 p.m., before hosting a pair of conference matches next weekend.
 
Juniors Liam Day and Leonel Gonzalez opened doubles play with a 6-2 upset of the 33rd-ranked doubles duo in the nation, Guilherme Zotin de Oliveira and Daniel Hammond, at the No.1 position.  Sophomore Harri Lloyd-Evans and junior Adam Ernberg followed with a 6-4 win at the No.3 spot to clinch the doubles point for FMU.  Sophomores Martin Barbera and Luis Lopez Sarasa won at No.2 doubles by a 6-4 decision.
 
In singles play, Francis Marion claimed victories at positions No. 4, 2, and 1, in that order, to clinch the match.  Gonzalez claimed a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4, followed by Barbera winning at No.2 (6-4, 7-6 [7-4]), and Day at No.1 (6-1, 5-7, 6-1). 
 
Both Barbera and Day improve to team-best 9-2 season marks in singles play.
 
The other Patriot wins came from Lloyd-Evans (3-6, 6-3, 1-0 [11-9]) at No.3 and Lopez Sarasa at No.5 singles by a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8) score.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
03/18/2023 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#44 Francis Marion University 6, #42 Mount Olive, Univ. of 1
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. G. Zotin de Oliveira (UMO) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
2. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Daniel Hammond (UMO) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Adam Ibrahim (UMO) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)
4. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. IsraelRodriguezRojas (UMO) 6-4, 6-3
5. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Bram Poel (UMO) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8)
6. Kabir Chhabria (UMO) def. Niklas Plath (FMU) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. #33 G. Zotin de Oliveira/Daniel Hammond (UMO) 6-2
2. Martin Barbera/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Adam Ibrahim/Diego Ortega Cadahia (UMO) 6-4
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Adam Ernberg (FMU) def. Elios Briand/Bram Poel (UMO) 6-4
 
Match Notes:  Mount Olive, Univ. of 6-5, 0-1; National ranking #42
Francis Marion University 6-5, 1-0; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,1,6,3,5)