SUMTER, SC – Despite a straight-sets singles win by freshman Miguel Maia, third-seeded Francis Marion University saw its season come to an end with a 4-1 loss to second-seeded Converse University, Saturday afternoon (Apr. 26) in the semifinals of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament.
 
Francis Marion ends its first season under the direction of head coach Laszlo Leiter with a 12-7 record.
 
The Valkyries claimed the doubles point and a 1-0 lead with a 6-3 win at the No.3 position and a 6-4 victory at the top spot.  The No.2 doubles match was deadlocked at 5-5 when play was stopped.
 
Converse upped its advantage to 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No.6 singles.  Maia then posted a 7-5, 6-4 victory at the No.2 position to draw the Patriots within 2-1.  It was his team-leading 13th singles win (in 19 decisions) of the season.
 
However, a straight-sets win at No.3 and a hard-fought three-sets win at the No.4 position clinched the match for the Valkyries.
 
FMU senior Martin Barbera was leading in the third set at No.1 singles when play stopped.
 
Four Francis Marion seniors concluded their careers on Saturday:  Barbera, Harri Lloyd-Evans, Austin Vienna, and Luis Lopez Sarasa.
 
Barbera and Maia led the Patriots with 13 doubles victories in 2025.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
4/26/2025 at Sumter, SC (Palmetto Tennis Center)
Converse University 4, Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. Manuel Roncero (CONVERSE) vs. Martin Barbera (FMU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-3, unfinished
2. Miguel Maia (FMU) def. Stanley Waters (CONVERSE) 7-5, 6-4
3. Takuma Furumaki (CONVERSE) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 7-5, 6-0
4. Marty Letessier (CONVERSE) def. R. Moura Ludgero (FMU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
5. Lucas Walker (CONVERSE) vs. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-3, 6-6, unfinished
6. Leopold Morel (CONVERSE) def. Diego Vega Espinosa (FMU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Stanley Waters/Takuma Furumaki (CONVERSE) def. Martin Barbera/Miguel Maia (FMU) 6-4
2. Leopold Morel/Marty Letessier (CONVERSE) vs. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Austin Vienna (FMU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Lucas Walker/Ben Hyde-Smith (CONVERSE) def. Diego Vega Espinosa/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-3
 
Match Notes:  Francis Marion University 12-7
Converse University 13-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,2,3,4)
Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament semifinal match