FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University will play host to first- and second-round matches in the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis National Tournament, Thursday and Friday (May 8-9) on the Kassab Courts.

The 20-2 FMU women, who are ranked seventh nationally, will play 28th-ranked Erskine College (20-3) on Thursday at 9 a.m. The other women’s first-round match pits 10th-ranked Columbus State University (19-7) against 14th-ranked Georgia College & State University (15-8) at noon. The winners will play on Friday at 10 a.m.

Admission to the regional is free.

This year’s 61-team women’s field consists of 16 first- and second-round regional sites. FMU is hosting one of two Mid-Atlantic sites, while Armstrong Atlantic State University will host the other Mid-Atlantic grouping. Each second-round winner will advance to the national finals, May 14-17, in Houston, Texas.

BYU-Hawaii has won the past two women’s national titles and seven of the last nine championships.

This marks the third straight trip to the national tournament for the FMU women, and their eighth invitation in the past 14 years. FMU has won its opening-round match each of the past two years.  This will be the first time Francis Marion has hosted an NCAA women’s tennis regional.  The Patriot men served as a first- and second-round host in 2000.

The Patriot women and Erskine did not meet in 2008. Erskine is the Conference Carolinas’ regular-season and tournament champion, while FMU placed second during both the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament. The 20 victories equal the school record for wins in a season for the FMU women.

All-Conference performer Tereza Sykorova will play number-one singles for FMU on Thursday. The sophomore has compiled an 18-2 record this season. The other Patriot singles players will include senior Sarka Vitkova (15-3) at No. 2, senior Jenny Ludwig (12-5) at No. 3, sophomore Klara Vitkova (15-4) at No. 4, sophomore Valeska Ibscher (14-3) at No. 5, and senior Magda Jezovicova (13-1) at No. 6.

The Francis Marion doubles squads will consist of Sarka Vitkova and Ludwig (13-7) at the number-one spot, Klara Vitkova and Ibscher (20-2) at No. 2, and the unbeaten duo of Jezovicova and Sykorova (22-0) at the number-three position.

--- DOUBLES COMPETITION ---

1. Jennifer Gennaoui/Kacie Knox (12-1) vs. #20 Sarka Vitkova/Jenny Ludwig (13-7)

2. Britton Bignon/Jenna Tudor (11-2)   vs. Klara Vitkova/Valeska Ibscher (20-2)

3. Mary Claire Rollins/Hannah Howerton (6-7) vs. Magda Jezovicova/Tereza Sykorova (22-0)

--- SINGLES COMPETITION ---

1. Jennifer Gennaoui (17-4)  vs.   #10 Tereza Sykorova (18-2)

2. Britton Bignon (16-6)     vs.   #40 Sarka Vitkova (15-3)

3. Mary Claire Rollins(17-3) vs.   Jenny Ludwig (12-5)

4. Kacie Knox (21-2)         vs.   Klara Vitkova (15-4)

5. Jenna Tudor (18-2)        vs.   Valeska Ibscher (14-3)

6. Hannah Howerton (6-7)     vs.   Magda Jezovicova (13-1)     

Thursday, May 8 at 12 pm

#14 Georgia College & State Univ. (15-8) vs. #10 Columbus State University (19-7)

--- DOUBLES COMPETITION ---

1. #14 Marjorie Ceppo/Celine Martin (13-4) vs. #19 Agata Polcyn/Lindsey Groenewald (18-10)

2. Diane Danna/Sofia Intriago (8-8)    vs. Roxana Dondera/Gabriela Vasilescu (14-4)

3. Marie LeFevre/Bertille Lion (19-4)  vs. Erin Reynolds/Daniela Castillo (18-8)

--- SINGLES COMPETITION ---

1. #43 Celine Martin (12-7)  vs.   #20 Agata Polcyn (18-9)

2. Marjorie Ceppo (15-8)     vs.   #38 Roxana Dondera (20-5)

3. Diane Danna (14-7)        vs.   Gabriela Vasilescu (16-11)

4.  Marie LeFevre (18-4)     vs.   Daniela Castillo (19-5)

5.  Sofia Intriago (12-6)    vs.   Lindsey Groenewald (15-5)

6. Bertille Lion (6-4)       vs.   Erin Reynolds (19-7)

10a.m., Championship Match