SUMTER, SC – Francis Marion University freshman Boris van Ruiten delivered a singles win at the No.3 position, but the Patriots dropped a 4-1 decision to 33rd-ranked and third-seeded Converse University, Friday (Apr. 23) morning in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament.
 
Francis Marion concludes its season with an 11-10 mark, while Converse (15-6) advances to Friday's semifinals.  The tournament is being play at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C.
 
In doubles play, Converse claimed a 6-3 win at the No.2 rung and a 6-2 victory at the top spot to record the doubles point and a 1-0 advantage.  FMU sophomores Diego Vega Espinosa and Adrian Calvo Guerrero were leading 4-3 in the No.3 doubles match when play was stopped.
 
Francis Marion's van Ruiten quickly knotted the match at 1-1 with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-0 singles win at the third rung.
 
However, the Valkyries responded with a pair of straight-sets wins at the No.2 and No.4 spots.  Converse then clinched the match with a narrow come-from-behind 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory at No.6 singles.
 
FMU sophomore and All-Conference selection Miguel Maia was leading at No.1 singles by a 7-5, 4-6, 4-1 margin when play was stopped.  The other unfinished match was also in a third set.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
4/23/2026 at Sumter, SC (Palmetto Tennis Center)
#33 Converse University 4, Francis Marion University 1
Singles competition
1. Marty Letessier (CONVERSE) vs. Miguel Maia (FMU) 5-7, 6-4, 1-4, unfinished
2. Mathis Blary (CONVERSE) def. Alexandre Frigout (FMU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Boris van Ruiten (FMU) def. Lucas Walker (CONVERSE) 6-4, 6-0
4. Takuma Furumaki (CONVERSE) def. Viktor Viraghalmi (FMU) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
5. James Hardy (CONVERSE) vs. Koldo Zuniga (FMU) 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 5-0, unfinished
6. Manuel Roncero (CONVERSE) def. Alexander Mirkov (FMU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Ben Hyde-Smith/Takuma Furumaki (CONVERSE) def. Alexandre Frigout/Boris van Ruiten (FMU) 6-2
2. Marty Letessier/Lucas Walker (CONVERSE) def. Miguel Maia/Viktor Viraghalmi (FMU) 6-3
3. Manuel Roncero/James Hardy (CONVERSE) vs. Diego Vega Espinosa/A. Calvo Guerrero (FMU) 3-4, unfinished
 
Match Notes: Francis Marion University 11-10
Converse University 15-6; National ranking #33
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,2,4,6)
Conference Carolinas Tournament Quarterfinals