FLORENCE, S.C. – The nationally ranked Francis Marion University men’s and women’s tennis teams both lost narrow 5-4 decisions to nationally ranked Georgia College & State University, Friday afternoon (April 6) in Peach Belt Conference action on the Kassab Courts.
In both matches, GCSU captured two of the three doubles matches.
The 17th-ranked Patriot women fell to 10-5 overall and 4-4 in the PBC, while the 11th-ranked Lady Bobcats move to 18-5 and 8-3. GCSU’s Sara Skagegard beat FMU’s Kamini Murugaboopathy in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) at No. 2 singles in one of the most key matches. It was only Murugaboopathy’s third singles loss of the year in 15 matches, and it came as she suffered through leg cramps in the final set.
The 29th-ranked FMU men fall to 6-6 overall and 2-4 in Peach Belt play, while 20th-ranked GCSU is now 15-7 and 5-4. At No.1 singles, Francis Marion’s Franklyn Emmanuel upset 15th-ranked Erick Siqueira in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Both FMU squads play host to Wingate University, Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
MEN’S Tennis Match Results
#20 Georgia College & State Univ. 5, #29 Francis Marion University 4
Singles competition
1. Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) def. #15 Erick Siqueira (GCSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. #39 David Budler (FMU) def. Giovane Nucci (GCSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Maxsim Beliankou (GCSU) def. Chatwinder Singh (FMU) 6-4, 7-5
4. Joao Casagrande (GCSU) def. Matthew Keth (FMU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Dananjaya Mayadunne (FMU) def. Melvin Smith (GCSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Matt Belenchia (GCSU) def. James Machlachlan (FMU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Chatwinder Singh/Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) def. Giovane Nucci/Melvin Smith (GCSU) 8-4
2. Matt Belenchia/Joao Casagrande (GCSU) def. David Budler/Matthew Keth (FMU) 8-5
3. Erick Siqueira/Maxsim Beliankou (GCSU) def. Dananjaya Mayadunne/James Machlachlan (FMU) 8-4
Match Notes: GCSU 15-7, 5-4 PBC; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #4
Francis Marion University 6-6, 2-4 PBC; National ranking #29; Regional ranking #8
WOMEN’S Tennis Match Results
#11 Georgia College & State Univ. 5, #17 Francis Marion University 4
Singles competition
1. #26 Celine Martin (GCSU) def. Sarka Vitkova (FMU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Sara Skagegard (GCSU) def. Kamini Murugaboopathy (FMU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. Marjorie Ceppo (GCSU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Magda Jezovicova (FMU) def. Anna Davidsson (GCSU) 7-6, 6-2
5. Elizabeth Lee (FMU) def. Sofia Intriago (GCSU) 6-4, 2-6, 10-7
6. Gabriela Acuna (GCSU) def. Sarah Hickman (FMU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Sarka Vitkova/Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. #16 Celine Martin/Marjorie Ceppo (GCSU) 8-4
2. Sofia Intriago/Sara Skagegard (GCSU) def. Kamini Murugaboopathy/Maria Covell (FMU) 8-3
3. Gabriela Acuna/Anna Davidsson (GCSU) def. Magda Jezovicova/Elizabeth Lee (FMU) 8-1
Match Notes: GCSU 18-5, 8-3; National ranking #11; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 10-5, 4-4 PBC; National ranking #17; Regional ranking #5
