FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University celebrated its 2024 home opener with a 6-1 non-conference win over Lander University, Thursday afternoon (Feb. 15) in women's tennis play.
 
Francis Marion (2-3) will also play its next five matches at home, starting with a Feb. 26 match-up with Augusta University.  First serve on the Kassab Courts is set for 2 p.m.
 
The No.2 and 3 doubles matches ended almost simultaneously with Lander earning a 6-2 win at No.2 and FMU's Julie Martincova and Julia Bellini Fernandes Pinto gaining a 6-3 win at No.3.
 
FMU senior Gabriel Karatantcheva and junior Kim Venghaus then rallied from down 4-3 to win 6-4 at the No.1 spot to put the doubles point on the home side.
 
In singles play, FMU captured the first five matches to finish off the Bearcats.  Pinto was victorious 6-1, 6-0 at the No.6 spot, Karatancheva won at No.1 when her opponent retired in the second set, freshman Polina Gontaryk earned a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No.5, Venghaus won 7-5, 6-0 at No.4, and Martincova won in a third-set tiebreaker at the No.3 position 7-6, (7-4), 1-6, 1-0 (10-6).
 
 
Women's Tennis
2/15/2024 at Florence, SC  (Kassab Courts)
Francis Marion University 6, Lander University 1
Singles competition
1. G. Karatantcheva (FMU_W) def. Chiara Gerbino (LUWT24) 4-6, 3-0, retired
2. Maria Jose Zarza (LUWT24) def. Chelsea Seidewitz (FMU_W) 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 1-0 (10-6)
3. Julie Martincova (FMU_W) def. Hannah Panchal (LUWT24) 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Kim Venghaus (FMU_W) def. Shae Connelly (LUWT24) 7-5, 6-0
5. Polina Gontaryk (FMU_W) def. Micaela Pallete (LUWT24) 6-2, 6-1
6. Julia B. F. Pinto (FMU_W) def. Becca Latty (LUWT24) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. G. Karatantcheva/Kim Venghaus (FMU_W) def. Maria Jose Zarza/Mille Elsborg (LUWT24) 6-4
2. Chiara Gerbino/Hannah Panchal (LUWT24) def. Chelsea Seidewitz/Polina Gontaryk (FMU_W) 6-2
3. Julie Martincova/Julia B. F. Pinto (FMU_W) def. Shae Connelly/Micaela Pallete (LUWT24) 6-3
 
Match Notes:   Lander University 0-2
Francis Marion University 2-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,1,5,4,3,2)