Patriot Netters ranked 5th and 18th in final polls

The Francis Marion University women’s and men’s tennis teams are ranked fifth and 18th respectively in the final 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II Top 40 national polls released recently. Several Patriot players were also included in the singles and doubles rankings.

The Patriot women’s No.5 listing equals the program’s highest ranking ever – also achieved last year. This past season, Francis Marion recorded a 20-5 mark that included a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II’s round of Sweet 16.

FMU finished third during the Peach Belt Conference’s regular season, lost in the PBC Tournament title match, and then earned the program’s ninth NCAA Tournament invitation in the past 15 years – where the Patriots captured their second straight Southeast Regional title.

Over the past two seasons, Francis Marion is a combined 43-8, with seven losses to opponents ranked in the Top 5 and the other loss was to an NCAA Division I opponent.

Under the direction of 17th-year head coach Garth Thomson, the FMU women appear in the end-of-the-season national poll for the fourth straight year and for the 10th time in the past 14 seasons. Thomson has compiled a 217-149 career coaching record while directing the Patriot women.
The FMU men were 16-6 in 2009 and earned their 13th national tournament invitation in the past 15 years.

The men’s program has appeared in the final national poll each of the past 14 years, and 15 of the past 16 seasons. Thomson has amassed a 252-118 career coaching record at the helm of the Patriot men.

Individually, Patriot junior Tereza Sykorova (17-6) ranked 13th nationally among Division II women’s singles players, while sophomores Kristyna Horakova (17-4) and Jitka Gavdunova (21-1) are 25th and 28th respectively. Sykorova was ranked 10th at the conclusion of the 2008 season.
The doubles duo of Horakova and Gavdunova (20-2) ranked third nationally in Division II, while Sykorova and sophomore Sabina Baberadova (16-2) are listed at the No. 14 position.

On the men’s side, sophomore Oshada Wijemanne (15-2) is ranked ninth in Division II singles and sophomore Dilshod Sharifi (17-2) is ranked 18th. Wijemanne was ranked 36th following his freshman campaign.

The doubles pair of Wijemanne and Sharifi (16-3) is ranked seventh nationally, up from 17th at the end of the 2008 season.

Five Patriots named ITA All-Americans

Five Francis Marion University tennis players were recently named to the 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II All-America Team.

Sophomores Oshada Wijemanne and Dilshod Sharifi were named to the men’s All-America squad for both singles and doubles play.

Junior Tereza Sykorova was named to the women’s team for her singles play—for the second consecutive year – while sophomores Kristyna Horakova and Jitka Gavdunova earned All-America recognition for their doubles play.

Wijemanne, a native of Colombo, Sri Lanka, was 15-2 at the No. 1 singles position and ended the year ranked ninth in Division II. Sharifi, a native of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, was 17-2 in singles play, mainly at the No. 2 spot, and was ranked 18th nationally. Wijemanne was 6-1 in the tough Peach Belt Conference, and his two losses were both to opponents ranked 12th or higher.
Wijemanne and Sharifi combined efforts for a 16-3 doubles record at the No. 1 position and garnered a Top 10 national ranking at the end of the year.

Sykorova, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, was 17-6 at the women’s No. 1 singles position and ended the year ranked 13th in Division II.

Horakova, a native of Roznov Pod Radhostem, Czech Republic, and Gavdunova, a native of Vejprty, Czech Republic, combined to post a 20-2 doubles record, including a 10-0 mark in PBC play. They are ranked third nationally, with both losses coming at the hands of the two doubles teams ranked ahead of them. They did compile four wins over nationally ranked opponents, including two Top-5 wins.

The FMU women ended the year with a 20-5 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament round of Sweet 16 for the second straight year. The Patriot men were 16-6 and earned their 13th national tournament invitation in the past 15 years.

Wijemanne and Sharifi become the seventh and eighth Patriot men’s tennis players to earn All-America honors. They join Kevin Taylor (2006), Mark Bube (2000, 2001, 2002), Sollie Nortje (2000, 2001), Laszlo Leiter (1999), Sam Lundkvist (1995, 1996, 1997), and Garth Thomson (1989, 1990).

Horakova and Gavdunova become the seventh and eighth All-Americans in the history of the Patriot women’s program, joining Sykorova (2008, 2009), Siobhan Murnane (1992), Mary Hirst (1992, 1993, 1994), Lee Whitwell (1993, 1994, 1996), Orsolya Somorjai (1998, 1999), and Annamaria Atamaniuk (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001).

Three FMU netters named to PBC All-Academic Tennis Team

Three Francis Marion University tennis players were recently named to the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Tennis All-Academic Teams.

Seniors Bastian Czwalinna and Matthew Keth were selected to the men’s squad, while junior Valeska Ibscher was honored on the women’s side.

The teams are part of a new season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for an All-Academic team, a student-athlete must participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor; have achieved a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and completed at least one full academic year at his/her current institution.

Czwalinna, a native of Erlangen, Germany, owns a 3.90 grade point average as a general business major. He is a member Chi Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society and he earned a Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award for 2007-08. He has been twice been named to the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll and once to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.

This past spring, he compiled a 7-5 singles record, playing at positions 3-6. He won the only doubles match he played in 2009.

Keth, a native of Border, South Africa, is majoring in finance and has a 3.50 GPA. A four-year letterman on the Patriot squad, he is also a member of Chi Alpha Sigma and has served on FMU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). He has been named to the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll four times and to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll three times.
On the court this past spring, he recorded an 11-10 doubles mark, while winning the only singles match he played.

Keth received a B.B.A. degree at FMU’s recent spring commencement exercises, graduating Cum Laude.
Czwalinna and Keth helped lead Francis Marion to a 16-6 record, a Top 20 national ranking, and an invitation to the NCAA Division II Tournament, the team’s 13th bid over the past 15 seasons.
Ibscher, a native of Feucht, Germany, has a 3.40 GPA as a marketing major.

She also served on the SAAC, is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, and has been honored by the FMU Swamp Fox and PBC honors rolls.

Playing at the No.4 singles position, she posted a 20-4 mark this past spring, including a 9-1 record in conference matches. In doubles competition, she had a 20-5 record, including a perfect 8-0 mark at the No.1 spot.

She helped the Patriot women to a 20-5 record, a Top 5 national ranking, the NCAA Southeast Regional title, and the team’s second consecutive appearance in the Division II national championships, this year in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The FMU squad also received the Peach Belt’s Team Sportsmanship Award for women’s tennis.

FMU Tennis Camps Set For June 15-19 & July 13-17

Francis Marion University will sponsor two sessions of Tennis Camp 2009 for boys and girls ages 8 to 18.

The camps will be held Monday through Friday, June 15-19 and July 13-17, from 9 a.m. until noon on the Kassab Courts on the FMU campus.

Each camp will cost $60 per camper. Enrollment is limited. Each camper will receive a T-shirt.
FMU men’s and women’s tennis coach Garth Thomson is the camp coordinator and instructor. A native of Zimbabwe, Thomson is a graduate of Francis Marion and a former two-time All-American during his collegiate playing career. Five times he has earned Peach Belt Conference “Coach of the Year” honors. The 17th-year coach has led the FMU men to a 252-118 record and 13 NCAA Division II national tournament appearances, and guided the Patriot women to a 217-149 mark and nine national tournament berths.

For more details or to request a registration form, call 843-661-1240 or contact Thomson at 843-661-1185.

FMU’s Wijemanne earns ITA regional award

Francis Marion University sophomore Oshada Wijemanne has been named the 2009 recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) Player to Watch award for the NCAA Division II’s Southeast Region.

Wijemanne, a native of Colombo, Sri Lanka, compiled a 15-2 singles mark at the No. 1 position and is ranked ninth nationally. He was 6-1 in the tough PBC and owned a 3-2 mark against nationally ranked opponents, including a regular-season win over the top-ranked singles player in Division II. In doubles play, he was 16-3 at the No. 1 position and is ranked sixth in the latest national rankings. He was 3-2 against nationally ranked doubles teams.

The 17th-ranked Patriot men ended the season 16-6 and made their 13th NCAA National Tournament appearance in the past 15 years.

Emanuel Fraitzl of Barry University earned the Player to Watch national award.
Earlier, Wijemanne was named first-team All-Conference for his play in both singles and doubles.

#7 Patriot Women fall to #1 Seasiders 5-1 at NCAA Finals

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL - Despite putting up a valiant effort, seventh-ranked Francis Marion University fell to top-ranked and unbeaten BYU-Hawaii 5-1, Wednesday evening (May 13) in Sweet Sixteen action at the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Championships.

Francis Marion ends its season at 20-5. The Patriots, who lose no seniors off this year's roster, were making their second consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance.

The Seasiders (27-0) opened up the afternoon with three-straight victories in doubles. The first slot combo of Elwen Li and Yuan Jia, the top-ranked doubles team in Division II, picked up a hard-fought 8-3 decision over the sixth-ranked duo of Jitka Gavdunova and Kristyna Horakova.

The second doubles position saw the No. 8-ranked doubles team of Jenny Chin and Wen-Lin Wang defeated the No. 13 pair of Tereza Sykorova and Sabina Baberadova 8-4, and in the third flight BYU-Hawaii's Ayako Ikeda and Shawni Porter beat FMU's Valeska Ibscher and Saskia Ludwig 8-2.

Francis Marion's lone win came at No.5 singles when Baberadova, a sophomore, picked up a 6-0, 6-3 decision over Ikeda.
The fourth and sixth singles spots provided the cliniching two points for BYU-Hawaii as Wang won a three-set match 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 over Ibscher and Porter captured a 6-3, 6-3 win over Ludwig.

When the match ended, FMU was leading at two of the other singles positions. Sykorova, a junior, was leading Li, the third-ranked singles player in Division II, 7-5, 2-3 at the No.1 position, while Gavdunova was also leading at No. 3 singles over 17th-ranked Chin 6-3, 3-2. Horakova was in a tight battle, down 6-7, 1-2, to fourth-ranked Jia at No. 2 singles.

BYU-Hawaii advances to play second-ranked Lynn University in the national quarterfinals on Thursday at 1 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Francis Marion University vs BYU-Hawaii
05/13/09 at Altamonte Springs, Fla.

#1 BYU-Hawaii 5, #7 Francis Marion University 1

Singles competition
1. #3 Elwen Li (BYUH-W) vs. Tereza Sykorova (FMU) 5-7, 3-2, unfinished
2. #4 Yuan Jia (BYUH-W) vs. #24 Kristyna Horakova (FMU) 7-6, 2-1, unfinished
3. #17 Jenny Chin (BYUH-W) vs. #29 Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) 3-6, 2-3, unfinished
4. Wen-Lin Wang (BYUH-W) def. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
5. Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. Ayako Ikeda (BYUH-W) 6-0, 6-3
6. Shawni Porter (BYUH-W) def. Saskia Ludwig (FMU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #1 Elwen Li/Yuan Jia (BYUH-W) def. #6 Jitka Gavdunova/Kristyna Horakova (FMU) 8-3
2. #8 Jenny Chin/Wen-Lin Wang (BYUH-W) def. #13 Tereza Sykorova/Sabina Baberadova (FMU) 8-4
3. Ayako Ikeda/Shawni Porter (BYUH-W) def. Valeska Ibscher/Saskia Ludwig (FMU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Francis Marion University 20-5; National ranking #7
BYU-Hawaii 27-0; National ranking #1

Patriot Women take on Seasiders at NCAA Sweet Sixteen

FLORENCE, SC – Seventh-ranked Francis Marion University will face top-ranked and unbeaten BYU-Hawaii in the round of Sweet Sixteen at the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis National Championships, Wednesday afternoon (May 13) in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
The match will begin at 1:30 p.m. Live stats will be available through https://admin.xosn.com/fls/19500/2009NCAATennis/Wlive02.htm
The tournament is being hosted by Rollins College and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
Francis Marion is 20-4 after winning the Southeast Regional last weekend. FMU is making its second straight trip to the national finals. Last year in Houston, the Patriots defeated Abilene Christian University 5-4 in the Sweet Sixteen round before falling to Lynn University (the eventual national runner-up) in the quarterfinal round.
BYU-Hawaii, winner of the West Regional, is 26-0. The Seasiders have won seven of the past 10 Division II national titles. Their line-up includes the third (Elwen Li) and fourth (Yuan Jia) ranked singles players in Division II, and the top-ranked doubles team (Li and Jia).
Junior Tereza Sykorova plays the number one singles spot for Francis Marion. She is ranked 18th nationally with a 17-6 season record. Sophomore Jitka Gavdunova is 21-1, has won nine straight decisions, and is ranked 29th nationally.
Over the past two seasons, Francis Marion is a combined 43-7, with six losses to opponents ranked in the Top 5 and the other loss was to an NCAA Division I opponent.

2009 NCAA DIVISION II Women’s Tennis Championships
Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Round of 16 – Wednesday, May 13
Match 1 - Lynn vs. Bloomsburg 1:30 p.m.
Match 2 - BYU-Hawaii vs. Francis Marion 1:30 p.m.
Match 3 - Concordia (NY) vs. Nebraska-Kearney 1:30 p.m.
Match 4 - Abilene Christian vs. Drury 1:30 p.m.
Match 5 - Montana St.-Billings vs. Hawaii Pacific 4:00 p.m.
Match 6 - Northwood (Mich.) vs. Valdosta St. 4:00 p.m.
Match 7 - California (Pa.) vs. Stonehill 4:00 p.m.
Match 8 - Armstrong Atlantic vs. St. Edward's 4:00 p.m.
Quarter Finals – Thursday, May 14
Match 9 - winner Match 1 vs. winner Match 2 1:00 p.m.
Match 10 - winner Match 3 vs. winner Match 4 1:00 p.m.
Match 11 - winner Match 5 vs. winner Match 6 1:00 p.m.
Match 12 - winner Match 7 vs. winner Match 8 1:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday, May 15
Match 13 - winner Match 9 vs. winner Match 10 1:00 p.m.
Match 14 - winner Match 11 vs. winner Match 13 1:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – Saturday, May 16
Match 15 - semifinal winners 1:00 p.m.

FMU Women’s Tennis Team earns PBC Team Sportsmanship Award

FLORENCE, SC – The Peach Belt Conference announced late last week that the Francis Marion University women’s tennis team has been named the recipient of the PBC Team Sportsmanship Award for the 2009 women’s tennis season.

The awards program, which includes honoring one team from each of the league’s 12 championship sports, will also recognize one institution with the “Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award” at the end of the 2008-09 year. This is the first year of the awards program.

The program presents an award following each championship season to the team in that sport that best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and generally conducts themselves with a high degree of integrity, character and class. The team award is selected by other teams who compete in that sport.
Under the guidance of long-time head coach Garth Thomson, the Francis Marion women finished third during the PBC regular-season and placed second at the PBC Tournament. The seventh-ranked Patriots are 20-4 after winning last weekend’s NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament and will face top-ranked and unbeaten BYU-Hawaii (26-0) in the NCAA’s Round of Sweet Sixteen, Wednesday in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Earlier this school year, the FMU men’s soccer and men’s cross country squads also won PBC Team Sportsmanship Awards.

Gavdunova wins marathon match as Francis Marion beats CSU 5-4 in regional final

FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Jitka Gavdunova rallied from a set down to win the deciding singles match at No.3 and give seventh-ranked Francis Marion University a 5-4 win over eighth-ranked Columbus State University, Saturday afternoon (May 9) in the championship match of the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Southeast Regional in Florence, S.C.

Francis Marion improves to 20-4, its second straight 20-win season and third in the last four years, and advances to the Division II National Finals (Sweet Sixteen) in Altamonte Springs, Fla., May 13-16. The Patriots will face top-ranked and unbeaten BYU-Hawaii (26-0), winners of the West Region, in Wednesday’s opening round.

This will be the squad’s second consecutive trip to the national finals. Last year, the Patriots advanced to the national quarterfinals where they lost to the eventually national runner-up.

Columbus State finishes its season with a 21-4 mark, with two of the losses coming at the hands of the Patriots in post-season play – Peach Belt Conference Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

In doubles play, Francis Marion took a quick 1-0 lead when the 13th-ranked doubles team of Tereza Sykorova and Sabina Baberadova won 8-0 at the No.2 spot over the nation’s 19th-ranked doubles team. That advantage grew to 2-0 when the sixth-ranked duo of Gavdunova and Kristyna Horakova outlasted the 11th-ranked pair of Eva Petschnig and Lindsey Groenewald 8-6 at the No.1 position.

At the third doubles spot, FMU’s Valeska Ibscher and Saskia Ludwig trailed 5-3 to CSU’s Erin Reynolds and Daniela Castillo, but rallied to take an 8-7 lead. Reynolds and Castillo fought off four match points and eventually gained the Cougars first point with a 9-8 win (9-7 in the tiebreaker).

Both teams traded a pair of fairly easy wins in singles play – FMU winning in straight sets at No.5 and No.2 and CSU winning in straight sets at No.4 and No.1 – to give FMU a 4-3 match lead.

Columbus State’s Reynolds then claimed a 6-4, 7-5 win over Ludwig at No.6 singles to even the match at 4-4.

All eyes then turned to the No.3 singles match between the 29th-ranked Gavdunova and 37th-ranked Hanane Toumi. Toumi won the opening set 6-4, but Gavdunova held off a late rally by Toumi to win the second set 6-4. Both players held serve until Gavdunova broke Toumi in the sixth game and she went on to win the final four games to capture the decisive third set 6-2. The match took over two hours on a hot and windy afternoon.

Gavdunova ups her season record to 21-1 and avenges her only loss of the year, a three-set loss to Toumi on March 18 in Florence.

“I am very proud of this squad,” said FMU head coach Garth Thomson. “That is about as hard a way to win a match as possible – going to the third set of the final singles match, and to come from behind. Jitka played with so much heart and desire, and she had the willingness to get that final result.

“It will be an honor to again represent Francis Marion, the city of Florence, and the state of South Carolina in the national finals.”

When asked about the key third doubles match, Thomson explained, “We were trying to steal that point because CSU had won that match in the two previous meetings. That gave Columbus State a glimmer of hope and they took advantage of the opportunity and pushed us to the brink. I have much respect for the way they played today.”

The victory pushes Thomson’s career coaching record to 217-148 in 17 seasons that have included nine NCAA Tournament berths. Thomson is a former Patriot tennis player and a Francis Marion graduate.


Women’s Tennis Match Results
NCAA Division II Southeast Regional #2 Final
May 08, 2009 at Florence, SC

#7 Francis Marion University 5, #8 Columbus State 4

Singles competition
1. #5 Eva Petschnig (CSU) def. #18 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) 6-2, 6-2
2. #24 Kristyna Horakova (FMU) def. #32 Roxana Dondera (CSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. #29 Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) def. #37 Hanane Toumi (CSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Daniela Castillo (CSU) def. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. Lindsey Groenewald (CSU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Erin Reynolds (CSU) def. Saskia Ludwig (FMU) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. #6 Jitka Gavdunova/Kristyna Horakova (FMU) def. #11 Eva Petschnig/Lindsey Groenewald (CSU) 8-6
2. #13 Tereza Sykorova/Sabina Baberadova (FMU) def. #19 Hanane Toumi/Roxana Dondera (CSU) 8-0
3. Erin Reynolds/Daniela Castillo (CSU) def. Valeska Ibscher/Saskia Ludwig (FMU) 9-8 (9-7)

Match Notes:
Columbus State 21-4; National ranking #8; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 20-4; National ranking #7; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,5,1,2,6,3)
NCAA II Southeast Regional (#2) Championship match
FMU advances to NCAA II National Finals (Sweet 16) in Florida, May 13-16
Official: Y. Farrar, K Edwards T-4:37 A-50

#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

CSU outlasts GCSU and rain for 5-0 NCAA Regional Semifinal win

FLORENCE, SC – Eighth-ranked Columbus State University rallied for wins at the top two doubles positions and then endured a long rain delay before claiming a 5-0 win over 29th-ranked Georgia College & State University, Friday afternoon (May 8) in the second semifinal of the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Southeast Regional Tournament in Florence, S.C.

The Cougars improve to 21-3 and advance to face seventh-ranked and host Francis Marion University (19-4) in the regional title match, Saturday at 1 p.m. That winner advances to the Division II national finals (Sweet Sixteen), May 13-16, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

GCSU ends its season with a 9-11 record.

Columbus State’s Erin Reynolds and Daniela Castillo took an 8-1 win at No.3 doubles to give the Cougars an early 1-0 lead. However, GCSU held leads of 5-4 at No.1 and 4-3 at No.2 doubles.

CSU’s Hanane Toumi and Roxana Dondera won two straight games and then dropped two in-a-row to still trail 6-5 to Diane Danna and Bertille Lion at the No.2 position. Toumi and Dondera captured the come-from-behind victory by winning the final three games for an 8-6 score.

At the top spot, CSU’s Eva Petschnig and Lindsey Groenewald rallied from 5-4, 6-5, and 7-6 deficits to take an 8-7 lead, but GCSU’s Marjorie Ceppo and Gabby Acuna rallied to knot the match at 8-8 and force a tiebreaker. The GCSU pair again got off to the early lead at 2-0, but the Columbus State duo won seven of the next eight points, capped by an unforced error by GCSU, to win the tiebreaker 7-3 and the third doubles point.

As singles play began, a thunderstorm enveloped the Kassab Courts and play was halted for two hours and twenty minutes. After play resumed, Castillo earned a quick 6-0, 6-0 win at the No.4 singles position, and a short time later, Reynolds ended the match with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No.6.

CSU assistant coach James Bryce was pleased with the Cougars’ effort. “In tournament play, you are always happy to move on. I was happy with our play in singles and we took care of business. Now we must rest up and come out ready to play on Saturday.”

Francis Marion and Columbus State split two meetings during the 2009 season with CSU claiming a 5-4 regular-season win in Florence and the Patriots getting a 5-3 win in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

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

No. 17 Francis Marion Advances With 5-1 Win Over Mars Hill

FMU sophomore Oshada Wijemanne readies for a return during doubles play against Mars Hill on Thursday at the NCAA Southeast Regional

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The No. 17-ranked Francis Marion men's tennis squad advanced to the second round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional with a 5-1 win over Mars Hill on Thursday afternoon at the AASU Tennis Complex in Savannah.

The Patriots (16-5), who advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals last season, picked up the victory over the Lions (13-6) in only the second meeting between the two schools in program history.

Francis Marion won two of three doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead. Dirk Bair and Karl Rogers notched a quick 8-3 win over Taylan Batuk and Alessandro du Besse at No. 3 doubles, then the sixth-ranked duo of Dilshod Sharifi and Oshada Wijemanne collected an 8-2 win over Andre Schafer and Stevan Stankovic at No. 1 doubles. Mars Hill salvaged a point at No. 2 doubles with Tyrone La Reservee and Koeche Smith's 8-4 win over Jack Bishop and Matthew Keth.

The Patriots then clinched the match with three straight-set wins in singles. Wijemanne, ranked No. 10 in the nation in singles, defeated du Besse, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 1 singles. Bastian Cwalinna delivered a 6-3, 6-1 win over Schafer at No. 4 singles, then Bair clinched the match with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) win over Stankovic at No. 6 singles.

Francis Marion advances to face No. 9-ranked USC Aiken in a second-round match on Friday, May 8, at 2:00 p.m.

#17 Francis Marion University 5, Mars Hill 1
May 07, 2009 at Savannah, Ga. (AASU Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. #10 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Alessandro du Besse (MHC) 6-1, 6-1
2. #22 Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) vs. Koeche Smith (MHC) 6-1, 4-3, unfinished
3. Karl Rogers (FMU) vs. Ugras Taylan Batuk (MHC) 7-5, 4-1, unfinished
4. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) def. Andre Schafer (MHC) 6-3, 6-1
5. Jack Bishop (FMU) vs. Tyrone La Reservee (MHC) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
6. Dirk Bair (FMU) def. Stevan Stankovic (MHC) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
Doubles competition
1. #6 Dilshod Sharifi/Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Andre Schafer/Stevan Stankovic (MHC) 8-2
2. Tyrone La Reservee/Koeche Smith (MHC) def. Jack Bishop/Matthew Keth (FMU) 8-4
3. Dirk Bair/Karl Rogers (FMU) def. Ugras Taylan Batuk/Alessandro du Besse (MHC) 8-3

Match Notes
Mars Hill 13-6
Francis Marion University 16-5; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,4,6)
2009 NCAA DII Men's Tennis Southeast Regional - First Round Francis Marion advances to face USC Aiken in second round on Friday

Erskine beats Mount Olive 5-2 for first NCAA women’s tennis win

FLORENCE, SC – Senior Kacie Knox and sophomore Britton Bignon picked up a key doubles win at the No. 1 position and helped 36th-ranked Erskine College to a 5-2 win over Mount Olive College, Thursday afternoon (May 7) in the opening match of the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Southeast Regional in Florence, S.C.

Erskine picks up its first-ever NCAA Tournament win and improves to 17-7. The Flying Fleet advance to face seventh-ranked Francis Marion University (18-4) in a regional semifinal match, Friday at 10 a.m. on FMU’s Kassab Courts. Eighth-ranked Columbus State University (20-3) will meet 29th-ranked Georgia College & State University (9-10) in the second semifinal match on Friday at 2 p.m.

The regional final is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

After Erskine won easily (8-1) at No. 3 doubles and Mount Olive claimed an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles, it was left to Knox and Bignon to try and give Erskine the lead heading into singles play. The pair led 6-3 only to have Mount Olive’s Carol Aro and Jessica Souza rallied to knot the match at 6-6. The Erskine duo then regrouped to win the next two games and the match 8-6, giving the Flying Fleet a 2-1 advantage.

Knox, who was deeply praised by Erskine coach Calhoun Parr after the match, then won in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) at No. 4 singles. The Erskine advantage grew to 4-2 when Bignon won 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 2 spot.

Aro gave Mount Olive its second point with a 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles, but shortly thereafter, Erskine freshman Nicole Miller claimed a 6-4, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 position to push the Flying Fleet into the regional semifinals.

“I am very proud and excited,” said Parr after the match. “This is our program’s first-ever NCAA win. It was a team effort, the squad showed a lot of mental toughness, and represented Erskine College well.

“Obviously the win at No. 1 doubles was huge. Kacie and Britton had lost that match in both previous meetings with Mount Olive this year. They both stepped up and played some of their best tennis of the season. And then what a win for a freshman (Nicole Miller) to earn the deciding point.”

Mount Olive, making just its second NCAA Tournament appearance, ends its year with a 12-11 mark.

NCAA Tennis Regionals Begin at FMU and in Savannah

FLORENCE, S.C. – The NCAA Division II National Tournaments for men’s and women’s tennis will begin on Thursday (May 7) with Francis Marion University playing host to a women’s Southeast Regional and the Patriot men traveling to Savannah, Ga., for their opening-round match.

The seventh-ranked Patriot women (18-4) will host one of two five-team, three-day Southeast Regional Tournaments beginning on Thursday afternoon. Thirty-sixth-ranked Erskine College (16-7) will play Mount Olive College (12-10) in the opening match on Thursday at 2 p.m. on FMU’s Kassab Courts. FMU will meet the winner of Thursday’s match on Friday (May 8) at 10 a.m. Friday afternoon, eighth-ranked Columbus State University (20-3) will play 29th-ranked Georgia College & State University (9-10) at 2 p.m. Friday’s two winners will meet in the regional title contest on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Admission to the tournament is free,
All-Conference singles player Tereza Sykorova plays the No. 1 singles position for Francis Marion. She owns a 16-5 record and is ranked 18th nationally. First-year Patriot players Kristyna Horakova and Jitka Gavdunova also gained All-Conference recognition after posting a 18-1 record, and they are currently ranked sixth in Division II.

This year’s 64-team women’s field consists of 16 regional sites. Armstrong Atlantic State University will host the other Southeast Regional. Each of the 16 regional winners will advance to the national finals, May 13-16, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

The 17th-ranked Francis Marion men (15-5) will play an opening-round match on Thursday in the men’s Southeast Regional, also hosted by AASU. The Patriots will battle Mars Hill College (13-5) at 2 p.m. at the AASU Tennis Complex. A win would move the Patriots into the second round on Friday at 2 p.m. against ninth-ranked USC Aiken (18-4). The men’s regional championship match is set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
Despite being in neighboring conferences, this will be only the second-ever meeting between FMU and Mars Hill. The Patriots captured a 5-2 win on March 10, 1994. Former FMU men’s basketball player David Riggins is the athletic director at Mars Hill.
The 64-team men’s field also consists of 16 regional sites. GCSU will host the second men’s Southeast Regional. As with the women, each regional winner will advance to the national finals, May 13-16, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

All-Conference performers Oshada Wijemanne and Dilshod Sharifi occupy the top two positions in the Patriot lineup. Wijemanne is ranked 10th nationally in singles play with a 14-2 mark, while Sharifi is ranked 22nd with a 17-2 record. The two have combined for a 14-3 doubles record and are ranked sixth in Division II.

This is the fourth consecutive trip to the NCAAs for the FMU women, and the ninth in the past 15 years. They have an all-time record of 7-8 in NCAA Tournament play. The Patriot men earn an invitation for the second year in a row and the 13th time in the past 15 seasons. FMU is 11-12 in its 12 previous trips.

This will be the second time Francis Marion has hosted an NCAA women’s tennis regional. The men served as a host in 2000.

Last year, both Francis Marion teams won their respective regionals and advanced to the national championships in Houston, Texas, where both squads made the Elite Eight.


2009 NCAA II Women's Tennis Southeast Regional
May 7-9, 2009, at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. (Kassab Courts)

Thursday May 7
2 pm #36 Erskine College (16-7) vs. Mount Olive College (12-10)

Friday, May 8 (Regional Semifinals)
10 am #7 Francis Marion University (18-4) vs. Erskine/Mount Olive winner
2 pm #29 Georgia College & State Univ. (9-10) vs. #8 Columbus State University (20-3)

Saturday May 9 (Regional Finals)
1 pm Semifinal 1 winner vs Semifinal 2 winner


Previous NCAA Women’s Tournament Appearances:
Columbus State University (12 years) 12-12 record
Erskine College (4 years) 0-4 record
Francis Marion University (8 years) 7-8 record
Georgia College & State University (14 years) 23-14 record
Mount Olive College (1 year) 0-1 record



2009 NCAA II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional
May 7-9, 2009, at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. (AASU Tennis Complex)

Thursday, May 7
2 pm #17 Francis Marion University (15-5) vs. Mars Hill College (13-5)
5 pm #24 Augusta State University (10-10) vs. #18 Lander University (8-8)

Friday, May 8
2 pm #9 USC Aiken (18-4) vs. Francis Marion/Mars Hill winner
5:30 pm #1 Armstrong Atlantic State University (24-1) vs. Augusta State/Lander winner

Saturday, May 9
2 pm Regional Championship Match

Patriot Netters make NCAA Tournament ; FMU Women to host

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s tennis teams learned on Thursday (April 30) that they both have earned invitations to participate in the NCAA Division II Tournament, with the Patriot women set to serve as a regional tournament host for the second straight year.
This is the fourth consecutive trip to the NCAAs for the FMU women, and the ninth in the past 15 years. The Patriot men earn an invitation for the second year in a row and the 13th time in the past 15 seasons. This will be the second time Francis Marion has hosted an NCAA women’s tennis regional. The men served as a host in 2000.
This year’s 64-team women’s field consists of 16 regional sites. FMU will play host to one of two Southeast Regionals on Thursday through Saturday, May 7-9. Armstrong Atlantic State University will host the other Southeast Regional. Each of the 16 regional winners will advance to the national finals, May 13-16, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
The 18-4 FMU women, who are ranked eighth nationally, will play on Friday, May 8, at 10 a.m. against the winner of Thursday’s 2 p.m. match between 33rd-ranked Erskine College (16-7) and Mount Olive College (12-10). The other match on Friday pits sixth-ranked Columbus State University (20-3) against 22nd-ranked Georgia College & State University (9-10) at 2 p.m. Friday’s two winners will meet in the regional title contest on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The 64-team men’s field also consists of 16 regional sites. Francis Marion will travel to Savannah, Ga., on May 7-9 for one of the two Southeast men’s regionals. GCSU will also host a men’s regional site. As with the women, each regional winner will advance to the national finals, May 13-16, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
FMU is ranked 17th with a 15-5 record and will face Mars Hill College (13-5) on Thursday, May 7, at 2 p.m. A win would move the Patriots into the second round on Friday at 2 p.m. against ninth-ranked USC Aiken (18-4). The men’s regional championship match is set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
Last year, both Francis Marion teams won their respective regionals and advanced to the national championships in Houston, Texas, where both squads made the Elite Eight.


2009 NCAA II Women's Tennis Southeast Regional
May 7-9, 2009, at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. (Kassab Courts)

Thursday May 7
2 pm - Match 1 #33 Erskine College (16-7) vs. Mount Olive College (12-10)

Friday, May 8 (Regional Semifinals)
10 am – Match 2 #8 Francis Marion University (18-4) vs. winner Match 1
2 pm – Match 3 #22 Georgia College & State Univ. (9-10) vs. #6 Columbus State University (20-3)

Saturday May 9 (Regional Finals)
1 pm – Match 4 winner Match 2 vs winner Match 3


2009 NCAA II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional
May 7-9, 2009, at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. (AASU Tennis Complex)

Thursday, May 7
2 pm #17 Francis Marion University (15-5) vs. Mars Hill College (13-5)
5 pm #24 Augusta State University (10-10) vs. #18 Lander University (8-8)

Friday, May 8
2 pm #9 USC Aiken (18-4) vs. Francis Marion/Mars Hill winner
5:30 pm #1 Armstrong Atlantic State University (24-1) vs. Augusta State/Lander winner

Saturday, May 9
2 pm Regional Championship Match

FMU tennis players earn All-PBC awards

FLORENCE, SC – Five Francis Marion University tennis players were named to the Peach Belt Conference 2009 All-Conference Teams. The announcements were made at the recent PBC Championship Tournaments in Morrow, Ga.

Sophomores Oshada Wijemanne and Dilshod Sharifi were named first-team All-PBC as a men’s doubles duo, while Wijemanne was named a first-team singles selection and Sharifi was tabbed for the second-team singles squad.

Junior Tereza Sykorova was named a first-team All-PBC women’s singles player for the second straight year, while sophomores Kristyna Horakova and Jitka Gavdunova were a first-team doubles selection.

Wijemanne, a native of Colombo, Sri Lanka, has compiled a 14-2 singles mark at the No. 1 position and is ranked 10 nationally. Sharifi, a native of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is 17-2 in singles play, mainly at the No. 2 spot, and is ranked 22nd among NCAA Division II singles players. Wijemanne was 6-1 in the tough PBC. The two have also combined for a 14-3 doubles record at the No. 1 position and are ranked sixth in the latest national rankings.

Sykorova, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, is 16-5 in singles play at the No. 1 position and is ranked 18th nationally.

Horakova, a native of Roznov Pod Radhostem, Czech Republic, and Gavdunova, a native of Vejprty, Czech Republic, combined to post an 18-1 record, including a 10-0 mark in PBC play. They are ranked 17th nationally, despite wins over two Top-5 opponents, and their lone loss was to the second-ranked doubles squad.

The eighth-ranked Francis Marion women are 18-4, while the 17th-ranked Patriot men are 15-5. Both are awaiting next week’s announcement of the NCAA Division II National Tournament field.

Coker Women Finish Season with Best Record in Program History

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
4/18/2009

Sumter, S.C. - After falling to Limestone in the opening round of the 2009 Conference Carolinas Women's Tennis Tournament, the Coker women started the day in the consolation round taking on Queens in their first match.

The Lady Cobras defeated the Queens Royals with ease, winning two of three doubles matches, before taking all of the singles matches for a 8-1 victory. Then came the big match of the day for Coker, as they faced Anderson University to determine fifth place.

Coker was unfortunate in their first few matches, as they quickly fell 4-2 with just three singles matches left, but the Lady Cobras were not ready to roll over and accept defeat. In the "best tennis performance I have ever seen," said Coach Alvin Cheng, the final three Lady Cobras all three seniors, Cassidy Spencer, Lindsay Crighton and Ashley Pace won their singles matches in three sets and gave Coker the 5-4 win, while ending their college careers with the highest finish Coker women's tennis has had in the school's history.

With the wins in the consolation round the Lady Cobras finish the season with a record of 10-5, the best finish in school history.

Limestone Knocks Off Coker Women's Tennis

4/17/2009
SUMTER, S.C.-The Limestone College women's tennis team defeated Coker College 5-0 in the quarterfinal round of the Conference Carolinas tournament on Friday. The Lady Cobras record falls to 8-5 overall. Coker will now play Queens in the consolation match.

Blanchard and Lemar Named All-Conference

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office
4/16/2009

High Point, N.C. > The Conference Carolinas All-Conference Teams were determined by vote from each Head Coach of participating league institutions. Nominations were collected and then voted upon by ballot and tallied to determine Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year, All-Conference First Team, All-Conference Second Team and All-Conference Second Team. Awards were presented at the league tennis team banquet at the Conference Tournament Championships co-hosted by Erskine College and the Sumter Palmetto Park Tennis Complex in Sumter, SC. This year's award winners are as follows:

WOMEN'S TENNIS:

Player of the Year:
Gabriela Celi, Lees-McRae

Freshman of the Year:
Gabriela Celi, Lees-McRae

Coach of the Year:
Paule Goode, Lees-McRae

All-Conference First Team:
Patty Dominguez, Pfeiffer
Tessa Rheault, Erskine
Gabriela Celi, Lees-McRae
Elena Mileva, Queens
Christine Vanard, Lees-McRae
Alyssa Blanchard, Coker

All-Conference Second Team:
Carol Aro, Mount Olive
Rachel Lemar, Coker
Britton Bignon, Erskine
Jimena Munoz Quiroga, Limestone
Camila Kurebayashi, Mount Olive
Jessica Galasso, Barton

All-Conference Third Team:
Jennifer Snaider, Limestone
Mary Claire Rollins, Erskine
Eve Aubry, Limestone
Sophia Medeiros, Mount Olive
Ashley Mayers, Lees-McRae

MEN'S TENNIS:

Player of the Year:
Nandor Solymosi, Lees-McRae

Freshman of the Year:
Christian Lee-Daigle, Queens

Coach of the Year:
Paule Goode, Lees-McRae

All-Conference First Team:
Nandor Solymosi, Lees-McRae
Thomas Ollivier, Limestone
Philip Pakebusch, Anderson
Stephane Murray, Anderson
Nemanja Brcan, Erskine
Christian Lee-Daigle, Queens

All-Conference Second Team:
Philip Lawson, Pfeiffer
Cesar Grobel, Barton
Shawn Sumner, Lees-McRae
Alexandre Queiros, Mount Olive
Alek Mojski, Lees-McRae
Miguel Lopez Zuniga, Limestone

All-Conference Third Team:
Phillippe Hogan, Limestone
Pierre-Alexander Desilets, Barton
Johan deWit, Pfeiffer
Murilo Pelegrino, Mount Olive
Angelo Ciarrochchi, Erskine