FLORENCE, SC – The ninth-ranked and unbeaten Francis Marion University women’s tennis team and the 19th-ranked Patriot men’s squad celebrated Senior Day with a sweep of visiting Limestone College in non-conference action on Friday afternoon (April 11).
The Patriot women blanked the Lady Saints 9-0, losing only one set. FMU improved its best-ever season record to 18-0. Limestone drops to 13-6 and sees its six-match winning streak snapped.
FMU sophomore Tereza Sykorova remained unbeaten in both singles (16-0) and doubles (18-0) play this year with two easy wins. Seniors Sarka Vitkova, Jenny Ludwig, Magda Jezovicova, and Sarah Hickman all picked up wins.
The FMU men improved to 14-3 with a 7-2 victory over the 38th-ranked Limestone men. The Patriots led 2-1 after doubles play. Patriot senior Franklyn Emmanuel rallied at number one singles to win 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 for his 57th career win in 70 decisions.
Both Patriot teams will play at nationally ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University on Saturday (April 12) at noon. The women’s match with the second-ranked Lady Pirates will be for first place in the PBC. The AASU men are ranked number one in NCAA Division II.
Limestone will play at Mount Olive College on Saturday, also at noon.
WOMEN: #9 Francis Marion University 9, Limestone College 0
Singles competition
1. #10 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. Snaider, Jen (LIME) 6-2, 6-0
2. #25 Sarka Vitkova (FMU) def. Gade, Alexandra (LIME) 6-0, 6-0
3. Klara Vitkova (FMU) def. Aubry, Eve (LIME) 6-1, 6-2
4. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Gade, Josephine (LIME) 6-2, 6-1
5. Magda Jezovicova (FMU) def. Cribb, Lee (LIME) 6-2, 6-1
6. Sarah Hickman (FMU) def. Griffin, Jessie (LIME) 6-2, 3-6, 10-8
Doubles competition
1. #13 Sarka Vitkova/Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. Snaider, Jen/Gade, Alexandra (LIME) 8-1
2. Klara Vitkova/Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Aubry, Eve/Gade, Josephine (LIME) 8-1
3. Magda Jezovicova/Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. Griffin, Jessie/Cribb, Lee (LIME) 8-1
Match Notes: Limestone College 13-6; Regional ranking #9
Francis Marion University 18-0; National ranking #9; Regional ranking #3
MEN: #19 Francis Marion University 7, #38 Limestone College 2
Singles competition
1. #19 Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) def. Ollivier, Thomas (LIME) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. #45 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Hogan, Phillippe (LIME) 6-0, 6-0
3. Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) def. Bosquet, Mattieu (LIME) 6-1, 6-4
4. Warnholtz, Christian (LIME) def. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Karl Rogers (FMU) def. Munn, Christian (LIME) 6-2, default
6. Matthew Keth (FMU) def. Avila, Paulo (LIME) 7-6 (7-6), 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #24 Franklyn Emmanuel/Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Ollivier, Thomas/Munn, Christian (LIME) 8-3
2. Hogan, Phillippe/Bosquet, Mattieu (LIME) def. Dilshod Sharifi/Dananjaya Mayadunne (FMU) 8-5
3. Karl Rogers/Matthew Keth (FMU) def. Warnholtz, Christian/Avila, Paulo (LIME) 8-3
Match Notes: Limestone College 12-7; National ranking #38; Regional ranking #10
Francis Marion University 14-3; National ranking #19; Regional ranking #4
