FLORENCE, SC – Junior Martin Barbera contributed a pair of wins at the No.,1 positions to help lead 37th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 6-1 victory over visiting North Greenville University, Friday afternoon (Apr. 5) in Conference Carolinas men's tennis action.
 
Francis Marion (7-6, 1-2) will play at Chowan University on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
 
North Greenville opened doubles play with a win at the No.3 spot, but FMU juniors Austin Vienna and Luis Lopez Sarasa won 6-2 at the No.2 position.  Barbera and senior Leonel Gonzalez earned the doubles point for Francis Marion – and a 1-0 advantage – with a 7-5 victory at the top spot.  Formerly nationally ranked, the duo improves to 9-2 this season.
 
Barbera opened singles play with 6-2, 6-4 victory at the No.1 position and junior Harri Lloyd-Evans upped the margin to 3-0 with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-4 win at No.2 singles.
 
Senior Adam Ernberg registered the match-clinching point with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No.6 singles.
 
Lopez Sarasa (6-4, 7-5) and Gonzalez (6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5)) accounted for the other Patriot points with victories at positions four and three respectively.
 
Barbera now owns a team-best 9-4 mark in singles competition.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
04/05/2024 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
#37 Francis Marion University 6, North Greenville University 1
Singles competition
1. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Christo Timini (NGU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) def. Joao Silva (NGU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Gabriel Pegoraro (NGU) 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5)
4. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Will Hernandez (NGU) 6-4, 7-5
5. Juan Arbelaez (NGU) def. Carlson Lim (FMU) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
6. Adam Ernberg (FMU) def. Anthony Cassini (NGU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Christo Timini/Juan Arbelaez (NGU) 7-5
2. Austin Vienna/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Will Hernandez/Anthony Cassini (NGU) 6-2
3. Joao Silva/Gabriel Pegoraro (NGU) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Pedro Caro (FMU) 6-2
 
Match Notes: North Greenville University 3-9, 1-2
Francis Marion University 7-6, 1-2; National ranking #37
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2,6,4,3,5)