HOUSTON, TX – Patrick Rittenauer outlasted Francis Marion University senior Franklin Emmanuel in three sets at No. 1 singles to give fifth-ranked Barry University a 5-4 win over the 20th-ranked Patriots, Thursday afternoon (May 15) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis National Finals.

Francis Marion ends its season with a 19-6 record after making the program’s deepest run ever into the national tournament.  Barry (21-4) advances into Friday’s semifinals.

The Patriots stunned the Buccaneers by taking two of the three doubles matches.  Freshmen Oshada Wijemanne and Dilshod Sharifi defeated the fifth-ranked doubles team in Division II by an 8-4 score.  On Thursday, the FMU duo beat the top-ranked doubles squad.

FMU’s Karl Rogers and Matthew Keth won at No. 3 doubles 9-8, with the tie-breaker being 7-5.

Barry quickly reversed the count by taking straight-set wins at the No. 4, 5, 6 singles positions to lead 4-2.

Wijemanne, ranked 42nd nationally in singles, beat 18th-ranked Ales Svigelj 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) at No. 2 singles and Sharifi won at the No. 3 spot 7-6, 7-6 (7-3) to even the match at 4-4.

At No.1 singles, Rittenauer, ranked 15th in singles, took the opening set from 24th-ranked Emmanuel 7-5.  The FMU senior rallied to win the second set 6-4.  Rittenauer then won the opening three games of the third set en route to the 6-1 victory.

“I am so very proud of this team’s accomplishments,” said FMU head coach Garth Thomson.  “Two weeks ago, this squad was the sixth-ranked team in its own region, and today we came within one set of making the Final Four.  That shows a lot about their character.  They believed they could win the national title and they got closer than anyone would have thought. Even in the match today, the guys kept finding ways to make it competitive.

“Oshada and Dilshod played very well.  They beat another Top-5 doubles squad and both won in singles to give us a chance.

“This has been a terrific ride.  Next week I will probably be able to sit back and really enjoy it even more.”

Both FMU tennis teams will remain in Houston until Sunday to assist with NCAA’s community service projects.

NCAA II Men's Tennis National Finals (Quarterfinals) in Houston, TX

Tennis Match Results

Francis Marion vs Barry

5/15/2008 at Memorial Park

#5 Barry 5, #20 Francis Marion 4

Singles competition

1. #15 Patrick Rittenauer (BARRY) def. #24 Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1

2. #42 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. #18 Ales Svigelj (BARRY) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

3. Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) def. Emanuel Fraitzl (BARRY) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3)

4. Andrew Sharnov (BARRY) def. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) 6-1, 6-0

5. Roman Werschel (BARRY) def. Karl Rogers (FMU) 6-2, 6-3

6. Jakub Fejfar (BARRY) def. Dananjaya Mayadunne (FMU) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Dilshod Sharifi/Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. #5 Ales Svigelj/Patrick Rittenauer (BARRY) 8-4

2. Jakub Fejfar/Emanuel Fraitzl (BARRY) def. Dananjaya Mayadunne/Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) 8-4

3. Karl Rogers/Matthew Keth (FMU) def. Andrew Sharnov/Roman Werschel (BARRY) 9-8 (7-5)

Match Notes:

Francis Marion 19-6; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #6

Barry 21-4; National ranking #5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,6,5,2,3,1)

NCAA II Men's Tennis National Finals (Quarterfinals) in Houston, TX

T-4:00  A-75