Box Score SUMTER, SC – Bolstered by wins at the top two singles positions, 46th-ranked and sixth-seeded Francis Marion University defeated seventh-seeded Converse University 4-0, Friday morning (April 26) in the opening round of the Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament.
 
Francis Marion, now 12-7, advances to face third-seeded and 28th-ranked Belmont Abbey College in the quarterfinals later Friday at 2 p.m.  The three-day event is being played at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter and admission is free.
 
In doubles play, FMU juniors Austin Vienna and Luis Lopez Sarasa were victorious 6-1 at the No.2 spot and senior Leonel Gonzalez and junior Martin Barbera registered a 6-3 win at the top spot to give Francis Marion the doubles point and a 1-0 advantage.  For Gonzalez, it was his 50th career doubles win (against only 18 defeats).
 
In singles play, Barbera earned a quick 6-2, 7-5 win at the No.1 position and junior Harri Lloyd-Evans followed with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-2) win at No.2 singles to up the Patriot margin to 3-0.  Barbera, the conference's Player of the Year, improved to 14-5 this season and 42-17 for his career in singles action.
 
Lopez Sarasa registered the clinching point with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win at No.5 singles.
 
FMU was leading at No.6 singles and the other two matches were even in a third set when they were halted.


Men's Tennis Match Results
4/26/2024 at Sumter, SC (Palmetto Tennis Center)
#46 Francis Marion 4, Converse 0
Singles competition
1. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Stanley Waters (CONV_MT) 6-2, 7-5
2. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Takuma Furumaki (CONV_MT) 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
3. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) vs. Marty Letessier (CONV_MT) 5-7, 7-5, unfinished
4. Ben Scott (FMU) vs. Manuel Roncero (CONV_MT) 7-6 (7-1), 1-6, 3-3, unfinished
5. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Leopold Morel (CONV_MT) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6. Adam Ernberg (FMU) vs. Cameron Davies (CONV_MT) 6-4, 5-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Leonel Gonzalez/Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Leopold Morel/Marty Letessier (CONV_MT) 6-3
2. Luis Lopez Sarasa/Austin Vienna (FMU) def. Takuma Furumaki/Manuel Roncero (CONV_MT) 6-1
3. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Pedro Caro (FMU) vs. Stanley Waters/Ben Hyde-Smith (CONV_MT) 5-4, unfinished

Match Notes:  Converse 8-10
Francis Marion 12-7; National ranking #46
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,2,5)