FLORENCE, SC – Freshman Carlson Lim fought off a match point in a third set and rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win that propelled Francis Marion University to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over visiting West Virginia Wesleyan College, Thursday evening (March 7) in non-conference men's tennis play.
 
Francis Marion, now 4-3, will entertain 21st-ranked Edinboro University on Friday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan (6-2) took a 1-0 advantage by winning the doubles point. The Bobcats were victorious at positions No.2 and 3, before the FMU duo of junior Martin Barbera and senior Leonel Gonzalez won 7-6 (7-1) at the top position.  The pair are ranked 44th nationally in the latest doubles ratings with a 6-1 mark.
 
As singles play commenced, Barbera quickly knotted the match at 1-1 with 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory at the No.1 position.  After WVWC won in three sets at No.5 singles, Gonzalez deadlocked the match at 2-2 with a 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-3 win at the No.3 slot.
 
The two teams then traded 6-4, 6-0 decisions at spots No. 4 and 5 – with Patriot junior Harri Lloyd-Evans winning at No.2 – to leave the score tied at 3-3.
 
Lim then captured the clinching point in only his second singles appearance of the season.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
03/07/2024 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Francis Marion University 4, West Virginia Wesleyan College 3
Singles competition
1. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Khiro Karaswa (WVWC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Gianluca Gerndt (WVWC) 6-4, 6-0
3. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Mika Kreisel (WVWC) 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-3
4. Takuya Kobayashi (WVWC) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Ricardo Starosta (WVWC) def. Ben Scott (FMU) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
6. Carlson Lim (FMU) def. Jed Platts (WVWC) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. #44 Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Khiro Karaswa/Jed Platts (WVWC) 7-6 (7-1)
2. Gianluca Gerndt/Mika Kreisel (WVWC) def. #39 Luis Lopez Sarasa/Austin Vienna (FMU) 6-4
3. Ricardo Starosta/Takuya Kobayashi (WVWC) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Pedro Caro (FMU) 6-1
 
Match Notes:  West Virginia Wesleyan College 6-2
Francis Marion University 4-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,3,4,2,6)