FLORENCE, SC – Twenty-sixth-ranked Francis Marion University earned the doubles point and then received singles wins from two freshmen en route to a 5-0 win over Emmanuel University (Ga.), Friday afternoon (March 15) in men's tennis action.
 
The women's match between the two schools was rained out with neither team have registered the required four points for a win.  The contest will not be made up.
 
Though both teams are members of Conference Carolinas, this was not a conference match.  The Francis Marion men, now 6-4, will open conference play on Wednesday when the Patriots host Barton College at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
 
FMU's No.3 doubles duo of junior Harri Lloyd-Evans and sophomore Pedro Caro opened the match with a 6-3 victory.  Juniors Luis Lopez Sarasa and Austin Vienna handed Francis Marion the doubles point with a 7-5 win at the No.2 spot.
 
The No.1 doubles match was left unfinished in a tiebreaker.
 
Freshman Ben Scott upped the advantage to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No.4 singles, and freshman Carlson Lim was victorious at the No.6 spot by a 6-4, 6-2 decision.  Lloyd-Evans provided the clinching point for the Patriots with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win at No.2 singles. 
 
Senior Martin Barbera accounted for the other FMU point with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 win at the top position.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
3/15/2024 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#26 Francis Marion University 5, Emmanuel University (GA) 0
Singles competition
1. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Murilo Gracio (EMMMT) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
2. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. James Girdler (EMMMT) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) vs. Henrique Castro (EMMMT) 6-1, unfinished
4. Ben Scott (FMU) def. Georg Stettler (EMMMT) 6-3, 6-2
5. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) vs. Aleksander Simovski (EMMMT) 0-6, unfinished
6. Carlson Lim (FMU) def. Alejandro Gomez (EMMMT) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #18 Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) vs. Murilo Gracio/James Girdler (EMMMT) 6-6 (4-5), unfinished
2. Luis Lopez Sarasa/Austin Vienna (FMU) def. Georg Stettler/Aleksander Simovski (EMMMT) 7-5
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Pedro Caro (FMU) def. Matheus Pimenta/Jose Calderon (EMMMT) 6-3
 
Match Notes:   Emmanuel University (GA) 5-3
Francis Marion University 6-4; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,6,2,1)
non-conference match-up