FLORENCE, SC – Led by juniors Liam Day and Leonel Gonzalez, 45th-ranked Francis Marion University earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Belmont Abbey College, Friday afternoon (Mar. 24) in Conference Carolinas men's tennis play.
 
Francis Marion improves to 8-5 overall with its fifth-straight win, and becomes the first conference team to reach 3-0 in league play.  The Patriots will return to the Kassab Courts on Saturday to host Converse University at noon.
 
After the Crusaders (11-15, 1-1) claimed a 6-3 win at No.3 doubles, Francis Marion rallied to pick up tiebreaker victories at the other two positions.  Sophomores Martin Barbera and Luis Lopez Sarasa won 7-6 (7-4) at the No.2 spot, and Day and Gonzalez followed with a 7-6 (7-4) win at the No.1 rung to claim the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.  Day and Gonzalez, ranked 50th in the most recent Division II doubles rankings, improve to 9-2 this season with their ninth consecutive win.
 
In singles action, Barbera won 6-4, 6-3 at No.2 and Day earned a 6-4, 6-2 decision at No.1 to quickly push FMU ahead 3-0.  Both improve to 11-2 this season, and have won nine of their last 10 singles contests.
 
However, Belmont Abbey won in straight-sets at No.5 and then in a third-set tiebreaker at No.3 singles to close the margin to 3-2.
 
Gonzalez clinched the win for FMU with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 win at No.4 singles.
 
The Crusaders won the final singles match (No.6) to account for the final score.  Belmont Abbey won the 2022 regular-season title with a perfect 10-0 mark, and were picked to repeat as champions according to the preseason coaches' poll.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
03/24/2023 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#45 Francis Marion University 4, Belmont Abbey College 3
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. Xaveam Van Wijk (BAC) 6-4, 6-2
2. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Chase Matin (BAC) 6-4, 6-3
3. Charlie Fremaux (BAC) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-0)
4. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Alex Turner (BAC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Andres Golindano (BAC) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Nicolas Scheller (BAC) def. Niklas Plath (FMU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #50 Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Xaveam Van Wijk/Alex Turner (BAC) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Martin Barbera/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Chase Matin/Nicolas Scheller (BAC) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Nelson Stafford/Andres Golindano (BAC) def. Adam Ernberg/Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 6-3
 
Match Notes:  Belmont Abbey College 11-15 , 1-1
Francis Marion University 8-5 , 3-0; National ranking #45
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,1,5,3,4,6)
Official: Ernie James