Francis Marion Women beat Erskine 5-0 in NCAA regional semifinal

FLORENCE, SC – Seventh-ranked Francis Marion University lost only four games in sweeping the three doubles matches and the Patriots went on to a 5-0 win over 36th-ranked Erskine College, Friday morning (May 8) in a semifinal match at the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Southeast Regional in Florence, S.C.

Francis Marion ups its record to 19-4 and advances to Saturday afternoon’s (1 p.m.) regional championship match against the Columbus State University/Georgia College & State University winner.

Erskine, which yesterday picked up its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, concludes its season with a 17-8 record.

The 13th-ranked doubles team of Tereza Sykorova and Sabina Baberadova won their eighth consecutive match with an 8-0 blanking of Tessa Rheault and Mary Claire Rollins at the No.2 position. FMU’s advantage increased to 2-0 when Valeska Ibscher and Saskia Ludwig earned an 8-1 decision at the No.3 spot.

The sixth-ranked duo of Jitka Gavdunova and Kristyna Horakova completed the doubles sweep with an 8-3 victory over Britton Bignon and Kacie Knox at the No.1 position.

In singles play, Sykorova downed Rheault in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) at No. 1 and Ibscher beat Knox 6-2, 6-0 at No.4 to end the match. Sykorova is ranked 18th among Division II singles players.

“Anytime you win an NCAA match, it’s a great result and a great day for your program,” said FMU head coach Garth Thomson. “I felt we played well in doubles, and then Tereza played perhaps her best match of the season in winning at No.1 singles. She was very efficient.”

Earlier this season, the 17-year head coach surpassed 200 career coaching wins at the helm of the Patriots. Thomson is also a former Patriot tennis player and a Francis Marion graduate.

Francis Marion advances to the regional title match for the fourth consecutive year. The Patriots are making their ninth overall NCAA Tournament appearance and even their all-time tournament record at 8-8. Erskine was making its fifth trip to the NCAAs.


NCAA II Southeast Regional (#2) Semifinal Match
Women’s Tennis Match Results
Erskine College vs Francis Marion University
May 08, 2009 at Florence, SC

#7 Francis Marion University 5, #36 Erskine College 0

Singles competition
1. #18 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. Tessa Rheault (ERSK) 6-0, 6-1
2. #24 Kristyna Horakova (FMU) vs. Britton Bignon (ERSK) 6-1, 5-1, unfinished
3. #29 Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) vs. Mary Claire Rollins (ERSK) 6-2, 2-2, unfinished
4. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Kacie Knox (ERSK) 6-2, 6-0
5. Sabina Baberadova (FMU) vs. Jourdan Smith (ERSK) 6-0, 5-0, unfinished
6. Saskia Ludwig (FMU) vs. Nicole Miller (ERSK) 5-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #6 Jitka Gavdunova/Kristyna Horakova (FMU) def. Britton Bignon/Kacie Knox (ERSK) 8-3
2. #13 Tereza Sykorova/Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. Tessa Rheault/Mary Claire Rollins (ERSK) 8-0
3. Valeska Ibscher/Saskia Ludwig (FMU) def. Jourdan Smith/Nicole Miller (ERSK) 8-1

Match Notes:
Erskine College 17-8; National ranking #36; Regional ranking #7
Francis Marion University 19-4; National ranking #7; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4)
NCAA II Southeast Regional semifinal match
FMU advances to Saturday's regional title match
Official: Mike Duff T-2:00 A-33