FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University took an early 2-0 lead over 10th-ranked Lander University, but the Bearcats rallied to claim a hard-fought 4-2 win, Thursday afternoon (Feb. 29) in non-conference men's tennis play.
 
Francis Marion (3-3) will return to the courts on Wednesday (March 6) when the Patriots host Edinboro University at 2 p.m.  That contest will be the third in a seven-match homestand.
 
The Patriots stunned the unbeaten Bearcats (7-0) by taking the doubles point.  Junior Martin Barbera and senior Leonel Gonzalez were victorious 6-4 over the nationally 11th-ranked duo of Hugo Regner and Matthew De Groot. After Lander won the No.3 match 6-4, Francis Marion juniors Austin Vienna and Luis Lopez Sarasa defeated the 24th-ranked doubles team of Nick Beamish and Markus Sorensen in a tie-breaker 7-6 (7-5).
 
For Lopez Sarasa, it was his 50th combined (singles and doubles) win during his FMU career.
 
Patriot freshman Carlson Lim then put Francis Marion up 2-0 as he captured the first singles decision, winning 6-3, 6-1 at the No.6 position.
 
Lander erased that deficit by winning in straight sets at spots No. 5, 2, and 4.
Regner, ranked 19th nationally in singles, provided the clinching point for the Bearcats with a come-from-behind 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 win at No.1 singles.
 
The remaining singles match (No.3) was left unfinished as Gonzalez slightly trailed Sorensen 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2), 1-2.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
02/29/ 2024 at Florence, SC  (Kassab Courts)
#10 Lander University 4, Francis Marion University 2
Singles competition
1. #19 Hugo Regner (LUMT24) def. Martin Barbera (FMU) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
2. Ambroise Marchand (LUMT24) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) vs. Markus Sorensen (LUMT24) 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2), 1-2, unfinished
4. Mouad Naoui (LUMT24) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Ishmail ElShafei (LUMT24) def. Ben Scott (FMU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Carlson Lim (FMU) def. Matthew De Groot (LUMT24) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. #11 Hugo Regner/Matthew De Groot (LUMT24) 6-4
2. Austin Vienna/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. #24 Nick Beamish/Markus Sorensen (LUMT24) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Ambroise Marchand/Emilien Baradel (LUMT24) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Pedro Caro (FMU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:   Lander University 7-0; National ranking #10
Francis Marion University 3-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,5,2,4,1)