GREENWOOD, SC  - Senior Franklyn Emmanuel rallied at No. 1 singles to claim a three-set win and give 20th-ranked Francis Marion University a 5-4 win over 13th-ranked Lander University, Friday afternoon (May 9) in a second-round match of the NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis Tournament at Lander’s Joe Cabri Courts.

Francis Marion, which improves to 18-5, advances to the NCAA Division II national finals (Sweet 16), May 14-17, in Houston, Texas. Francis Marion will face Cameron University on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

FMU, ranked sixth in the most recent region poll, defeated the No. 2 and No. 4 ranked region teams in consecutive days to earn the program’s fourth trip to the Division II finals, but the first since 2001. 

The Patriots also advanced in 1998 and 1999.   The win was only third ever for Francis Marion over Lander in Greenwood, and the first in 32 years.

Lander (18-7) took a 2-1 lead after doubles play with 8-6 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. FMU’s Dananjaya Mayadunne and Emmanuel kept FMU in the match with an 8-2 victory over T.C. Valle and Henrik Willers at the No. 2 spot.

In singles, Francis Marion got wins from Oshada Wijemanne at No. 2, Dilshod Sharifi at No. 3, and Karl Rogers at No. 5 to knot the match at 4-4.

Emmanuel, ranked 24th nationally, lost the opening set 7-5, rallied to win the second set 6-3, and then cruised to a 6-2 victory in the third and deciding set. The native of Colombo, Sri Lanka, owns a 59-15 career singles record.

FMU head coach Garth Thomson expressed great pride and joy that the Patriot men’s team would be joining the women’s team in Houston at the NCAA finals. “What a day for Francis Marion tennis. To beat Lander on its home court is an exceptional accomplishment. I am very proud of the team. No one gave us much of a chance after our fifth-place showing at the Peach Belt Tournament, but you can’t count these guys out.”