SUMTER, SC – Ninth-seeded Francis Marion University pushed fourth-seeded Belmont Abbey College to the brink, but the Crusaders pulled out a hard-fought 4-2 win, Friday afternoon (Apr. 26) in the opening round of the Conference Carolinas Women's Tennis Tournament.
 
Francis Marion ends its season with a 7-11 mark.
 
FMU sophomore Chelsea Seidewitz and freshman Polina Gontaryk started doubles play with a quick 6-0 win at the No.2 position.  Belmont Abbey answered with a 6-2 victory at the top spot, and then earned the doubles point by winning the third match in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (8-6).
 
The Crusaders opened singles play with straight-set wins at No. 5 and No. 4 to assume a 3-0 advantage.
 
Francis Marion rallied to within 3-2 as Seidewitz was victorious 6-2, 6-1 at No.2 singles and senior Gabriel Karatantcheva won 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 at No.1 singles.  Karatantcheva, a three-time All-Conference selection, finishes her career 12th on the school's all-time singles wins list with a 44-25 mark and is tied for 17th in career doubles wins with a 35-34 record.
 
However, Belmont Abbey captured a come-from-behind win at No.3 singles, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the match.  The Crusaders were also leading (6-2, 4-6, 4-2) in the third set in the other match (No.6) when it was halted.
 
In addition to Karatantcheva, two other Patriots played their final matches for FMU: graduate student Julie Martincova and senior Julia Bellini Fernandes Pinto.
 
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
4/26/2024 at Sumter, SC  (Palmetto Tennis Center)
Belmont Abbey 4, Francis Marion University 2
Singles competition
1. G. Karatantcheva (FMU_W) def. Frankee Hendricks (BAC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
2. Chelsea Seidewitz (FMU_W) def. Kaitlin Nguyen (BAC) 6-2, 6-1
3. Hanley Riner (BAC) def. Polina Gontaryk (FMU_W) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Mackenzie McCarthy (BAC) def. Julie Martincova (FMU_W) 6-1, 7-5
5. Alexis Burkhalter (BAC) def. Kim Venghaus (FMU_W) 6-3, 6-4
6. Rebekka Collyer (BAC) vs. Julia B. F. Pinto (FMU_W) 6-2, 4-6, 4-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Hanley Riner/Mackenzie McCarthy (BAC) def. G. Karatantcheva/Kim Venghaus (FMU_W) 6-2
2. Chelsea Seidewitz/Polina Gontaryk (FMU_W) def. Elizabeth Vollmin/Leilany Sanchez (BAC) 6-0
3. Paola Socarras/Alexis Burkhalter (BAC) def. Julie Martincova/Julia B. F. Pinto (FMU_W) 7-6 (8-6)
 
Match Notes: Francis Marion University 7-11
Belmont Abbey 19-10
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,4,2,1,3)