FLORENCE, SC – Despite a pair of wins from junior Magdalena Skachova, the Francis Marion University women's tennis team saw its three-match winning streak end with a 4-2 loss to visiting Lander University, Tuesday afternoon (March 24) in non-conference play.
 
Francis Marion (4-6) will play at Shorter University on Friday at 1 p.m. and at Young Harris College on March 28 at 2 p.m.
 
Francis Marion swept all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 advantage.  Freshman Jensen Gibbs and senior Natasha Beader were victorious 6-2 at the No.3 position, followed by a 6-4 win by Skachova and freshman Janka Juhasz at the top rung.  Sophomores Lara Lanno and Valery Gomez completed the sweep with a 6-3 win at the No.2 spot.
 
In singles action, Lander (5-3) quickly knotted the match with a straight-sets win at the No.6 position.  Skachova put the Patriots back ahead 2-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No.2 singles, but Lander responded with wins at spots three, one, and four to clinch the match.
 
FMU sophomore Fatima Hernandez Huerta was leading 6-4, 4-6, 2-1 at No.5 singles when the match was decided.
 
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
3/24/2026 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Lander University 4, Francis Marion University 2
Singles competition
1. Maria Jose Zarza (LUW26) def. Lara Lanno (FMUW) 6-4, 6-3
2. Magdalena Skachova (FMUW) def. Evelyn Altmaier (LUW26) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sydney Caulder (LUW26) def. Janka Juhasz (FMUW) 6-4, 6-4
4. Thilda Danielsson (LUW26) def. Valery Gomez (FMUW) 7-5, 6-2
5. F. Hernandez Huerta (FMUW) vs. Bailee Martin (LUW26) 6-4, 4-6, 2-1, unfinished
6. Ella Sowman (LUW26) def. Lucia Acuna Montero (FMUW) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Janka Juhasz/Magdalena Skachova (FMUW) def. Evelyn Altmaier/Maria Jose Zarza (LUW26) 6-4
2. Lara Lanno/Valery Gomez (FMUW) def. Sydney Caulder/Ella Sowman (LUW26) 6-3
3. Jensen Gibbs/Natasha Beader (FMUW) def. Thilda Danielsson/Bailee Martin (LUW26) 6-2
 
Match Notes:  Lander University 5-3
Francis Marion University 4-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,3,1,4)