#9 Patriot Women win; #11 FMU Men lose on tennis courts

FLORENCE, SC – In another in a long line of Top 20 match-ups in Peach Belt Conference tennis action, the ninth-ranked Francis Marion University women’s team defeated 19th-ranked Georgia College & State University 9-0 on Saturday afternoon (March 21), while the fourth-ranked and conference-leading GCSU men beat the 11th-ranked Francis Marion men 6-3.

The Patriot women, which improve to 12-2 overall and 5-1 in the PBC, easily swept the three doubles matches and then dropped only one set in singles play.

On the men’s side, GCSU took two of the three doubles matches and then captured singles wins at the top three spots. FMU drops to 10-3 overall and 2-3 in the Peach Belt.

Both Francis Marion squads will host Armstrong Atlantic State University on Tuesday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts. AASU swept both the men’s and women’s NCAA Division II national championships last season.

Women’s Tennis Match Results
Georgia College & State Univ. vs Francis Marion University
Mar 21, 2009 at Florence, SC

#9 Francis Marion University 9, #19 Georgia College & State Univ. 0
Singles competition
1. #9 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. #48 Marjorie Ceppo (GCSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Kristyna Horakova (FMU) def. Diane Danna (GCSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) def. Bertille Lion (GCSU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Gabby Acuna (GCSU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. Angy Cuellar (GCSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Saskia Ludwig (FMU) def. Adriana Acuna (GCSU) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Kristyna Horakova/Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) def. Gabby Acuna/Marjorie Ceppo (GCSU) 8-3
2. Tereza Sykorova/Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. Diane Danna/Bertille Lion (GCSU) 8-2
3. Valeska Ibscher/Saskia Ludwig (FMU) def. Adriana Acuna/Angy Cuellar (GCSU) 8-3

Match Notes:
Georgia College & State Univ. 6-6, 4-5; National ranking #19; Regional ranking #5
Francis Marion University 12-2, 5-1; National ranking #9; Regional ranking #3
T-5:00 A-40

Men’s Tennis Match Results
Georgia College & State Univ. vs Francis Marion University
Mar 21, 2009 at Florence, SC

#4 Georgia College & State Univ. 6, #11 Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. #8 Erick Siqueria (GCSU-M) def. #7 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Justin Pickham (GCSU-M) def. Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) 7-6, 0-6, 6-3
3. #24 Francis Yoshimoto (GCSU-M) def. Mario Kieck (FMU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Karl Rogers (FMU) def. Max Beliankou (GCSU-M) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
5. Leo Benardez (GCSU-M) def. Jack Bishop (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Dirk Bair (FMU) def. Joao Casagrande (GCSU-M) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. #2 Erick Siqueria/Justin Pickham (GCSU-M) def. Oshada Wijemanne/Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) 8-1
2. #24 Joao Casagrande/Francis Yoshimoto (GCSU-M) def. Matthew Keth/Noah van Moerkerken (FMU) 8-3
3. Dirk Bair/Mario Kieck (FMU) def. Max Beliankou/Leo Benardez (GCSU-M) 8-3

Match Notes:
Georgia College & State Univ. 11-1, 6-0; National ranking #4; Regional ranking #1
Francis Marion University 10-3, 2-3; National ranking #11; Regional ranking #4
T-5:15 A-40


Michael G. Hawkins