FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Luis Lopez Sarasa rallied from down a set to win in three sets and clinch a 4-1 win for 41st-ranked Francis Marion University over Lees-McRae College, Sunday morning (Apr. 23) in the semifinal round of the Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament.
 
The top-seeded Patriots (13-7) advance to the title match later on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Belmont Abbey College at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.  Admission is free. 
 
The Patriots will be looking to win their first conference tournament title since moving to NCAA affiliation in 1992 and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
 
With the victory over Lees-McRae, FMU avenges a 4-3 loss to the Bobcats two weeks ago in Banner Elk – the only blemish on the Patriots' regular-season conference record (7-1).
 
Francis Marion took an early 1-0 after earning the doubles point.  Sophomore Martin Barbera and Lopez Sarasa were victorious 6-2 at the No.2 position and juniors Liam Day and Leonel Gonzalez followed with a 7-5 win at the No.1 rung.
 
The Patriots' advantage quickly grew to 3-0 with a pair of straight-sets singles wins.  Sophomore Harri Lloyd-Evans won at No.3 singles by a 6-1, 6-2 decision and junior Adam Ernberg captured a 6-3, 6-1 victory at the No.6 spot.  Lloyd-Evans reached double-digits victories for the season with his win, while Ernberg earned his biggest win of the year – only his third win in 11 decisions in 2023.
 
The Bobcats pulled to with 3-1 with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 win at No.2 singles, before Lopez Sarasa provided the clinching point for FMU with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1 win at the No.5 position.
 
Both of the remaining singles matches were in a third set.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
04/23/2023 at Florence, SC  (Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center)
#41 Francis Marion University 4, Lees-McRae College 1
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) vs. Max Borisov (LMCM) 6-3, 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
2. Facundo Perlov (LMCM) def. Martin Barbera (FMU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Martin Hlavacek (LMCM) 6-1, 6-2
4. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) vs. Ezequiel Arce (LMCM) 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 1-3, unfinished
5. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Landon Church (LMCM) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1
6. Adam Ernberg (FMU) def. Sam Jones (LMCM) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Max Borisov/Martin Hlavacek (LMCM) 7-5
2. Martin Barbera/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Ezequiel Arce/Facundo Perlov (LMCM) 6-2
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Austin Vienna (FMU) vs. Sam Jones/Landon Church (LMCM) 6-5, unfinished
 
Match Notes:  Lees-McRae College 8-8 (4 seed)
Francis Marion University 13-7 (1 seed); National ranking #41
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,6,2,5)
Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament Semifinal Match
T-3:07