#25 FMU men fall to #5 Pacers in NCAA regional semifinal

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Francis Marion University men’s tennis team could not overcome a 2-1 deficit after doubles play and the 25th-ranked Patriots saw their season come to an end with a 5-1 loss to fifth-ranked USC Aiken, Friday afternoon (May 8) in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional in Savannah.

USC Aiken (19-4) will play at 2 p.m. on Saturday against AASU for a chance to advance to the Round of 16. Francis Marion concludes its season with a 16-6 mark. The Patriots were making their 13th NCAA Tournament appearance over the past 15 seasons.

The Pacers took a 2-1 lead after doubles as the No. 22-ranked duo of Filipe Garcia and Bruno Seves notched an 8-4 win over Jack Bishop and Matthew Keth at No. 2 doubles, and Gregory Andrade and Chris Kaetz defeated Dirk Bair and Karl Rogers 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.

Francis Marion's lone doubles point came at the No. 1 spot in a duel of top 10-ranked pairs. The sixth-ranked duo of Dilshod Sharifi and Oshada Wijemanne picked up an 8-3 win over No. 9-ranked Dagoberto Darezzo and Edward Horne.

Kaetz gave USC Aiken its first singles point with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Bastian Czwalinna at No. 4 singles, then Andrade defeated Bair 6-3, 6-2, at No. 6 singles. Horne came up with the clinching point, winning the final three games of the third set to outlast Rogers 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and send the Pacers into Saturday's final.



#5 USC Aiken 5, #25 Francis Marion University 1
May 08, 2009 at Savannah, Ga. (AASU Tennis Complex)

Singles competition
1. #6 Bruno Seves (USCAM) vs. #10 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) 5-7, 2-5, unfinished
2. #21 Dagoberto Darezzo (USCAM) vs. #22 Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0, unfinished
3. Edward Horne (USCAM) def. Karl Rogers (FMU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Chris Kaetz (USCAM) def. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Filipe Garcia (USCAM) vs. Jack Bishop (FMU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
6. Gregory Andrade (USCAM) def. Dirk Bair (FMU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #6 Dilshod Sharifi/Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. #9 Dagoberto Darezzo/Edward Horne (USCAM) 8-3
2. #22 Filipe Garcia/Bruno Seves (USCAM) def. Jack Bishop/Matthew Keth (FMU) 8-4
3. Gregory Andrade/Chris Kaetz (USCAM) def. Dirk Bair/Karl Rogers (FMU) 8-6

Match Notes
Francis Marion University 16-6; National ranking #25
USC Aiken 19-4; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,6,3)
2009 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional - Semifinals
USC Aiken advances to Region final at 2 p.m. on Saturday