Francis Marion proves the sword is mightier than the pen; Patriots beat Poets 8-1

FLORENCE, SC – The 11th-ranked Francis Marion University men’s tennis team won two-of-three doubles matches and then cruised to an 8-1 win over NCAA Division III Whittier College, Tuesday afternoon (March 31) on the Kassab Courts.

Francis Marion improves to 12-4 with its second straight win, while the Poets fall to 12-4 and see their five-match winning streak come to an end, as well as their East Coast trip.

The Patriots won easily at No. 1 doubles 8-0 and tightly at No. 3 doubles 8-6. Whittier rallied from a 7-6 deficit at No. 2 doubles to win three straight games and the match by a 9-7 tally.

However, Francis Marion responded by not losing a set during the six singles matches.

Both the Francis Marion men’s and women’s teams will play host to Peach Belt Conference foe Georgia Southwestern State University on Friday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts. Whittier will return to the West Coast to entertain Caltech on Friday at 2 p.m. (PT).


Men’s Tennis Match Results
Whittier College vs Francis Marion University
Mar 31, 2009 at Florence, SC

#11 Francis Marion University 8, Whittier College 1
Singles competition
1. #7 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Sean Robertson (WHITTIER) 6-1, 6-3
2. Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) def. Justin Delong (WHITTIER) 6-0, 6-1
3. Mario Kieck (FMU) def. Patricio Carregha (WHITTIER) 6-2, 6-3
4. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) def. Lance Franey (WHITTIER) 7-5, 6-4
5. Dirk Bair (FMU) def. Gavin Smith (WHITTIER) 6-2, 6-3
6. Jack Bishop (FMU) def. Frank Sun (WHITTIER) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Oshada Wijemanne/Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) def. Justin Delong/Sean Robertson (WHITTIER) 8-0
2. Patricio Carregha/Lance Franey (WHITTIER) def. Mario Kieck/Dirk Bair (FMU) 9-7
3. Jack Bishop/Karl Rogers (FMU) def. Gavin Smith/Frank Sun (WHITTIER) 8-6

Match Notes:
Whittier College 12-4; Regional ranking #12
Francis Marion University 12-4; National ranking #11; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles ()
Whittier is ranked 12th in the NCAA III West Region
T-4:00 A-30