SAVANNAH, GA - The ninth-ranked Francis Marion University women's tennis team rallied from a 4-3 deficit with wins in the final two singles matches to upset eighth-ranked and second-seeded Clayton State University 5-4, Saturday afternoon (April 19) at the 2008 Peach Belt Conference Tennis Tournament in Savannah, Ga.

The 19th-ranked and fourth-seeded FMU men blanked eighth-seeded North Georgia College & State University 5-0 on Saturday.

The third-seeded Patriots women improve to 20-1 and equal the school record for wins in a season set in 2006. FMU advances to the tournament title match for the first time ever and will face second-ranked and top-seeded Armstrong Atlantic State University (25-1), Sunday at 10 a.m. at the AASU Tennis Complex.

The FMU men up their record to 15-5 and move on to face seventh-seeded Augusta State University in Sunday’s fifth-place match at 2 p.m. on the Savannah Country Day School courts.

In the women’s historic victory, FMU took two of three doubles matches and won at No. 1 singles, but lost at singles spots 2, 3, and 4. Patriot sophomore Valeska Ibscher rallied from a set down to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 at No.5 singles to tie the match at 4-4. Senior Magda Jezovicova then gave FMU the semifinal win with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No.6 singles.

In the men’s match, Francis Marion swept all three doubles contests and got straight-set singles wins from senior Franklyn Emmanuel at No. 1 and freshman Oshada Wijemanne at No. 2. 

 

 

 

 #9 Francis Marion University 5, #8 Clayton State 4

 

Apr 19, 2008 at Savannah, Ga. (AASU Tennis Complex)

Singles competition

1. #10 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. #17 Anna Redecsi (CLSW) 6-4, 6-4

2. #29 Julia Chergova (CLSW) def. #25 Sarka Vitkova (FMU) 6-0, 6-2

3. Viktoriya Semyrodenk (CLSW) def. Jenny Ludwig (FMU) 6-4, 7-5

4. Katie White (CLSW) def. Klara Vitkova (FMU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

5. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Kristina Jonutyte (CLSW) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1

6. Magda Jezovicova (FMU) def. Veronika Jasenovcova (CLSW) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #7 Julia Chergova/Anna Redecsi (CLSW) def. #13 Jenny Ludwig/Sarka Vitkova (FMU) 8-2

2. Valeska Ibscher/Klara Vitkova (FMU) def. Selma Hidass/Katie White (CLSW) 9-8 (7-4)

3. Magda Jezovicova/Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. Allison Evans/Viktoriya Semyrodenk (CLSW) 9-8 (9-7)

 

Match Notes:  2008 PBC Women's Tennis Championships - Semifinals

Francis Marion University 20-1; National ranking #9; Regional ranking #3

Clayton State 19-3; National ranking #8; Regional ranking #2

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

T-4:37 A-100 

 

 

 

#19 Francis Marion University 5, North Georgia 0

 

Apr 19, 2008 at Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)

Singles competition

1. #19 Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) def. Gustavo Carballal (NGCSU) 6-0, 6-1

2. Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Santiago Carballal (NGCSU) 6-0, 6-1

3. Grant Partrick (NGCSU) vs. Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) no result

4. Samuel Moore (NGCSU) vs. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) no result

5. Vlad Lumezeanu (NGCSU) vs. Karl Rogers (FMU) no result

6. Marijn Bal (NGCSU) vs. Matthew Keth (FMU) no result

Doubles competition

1. Dilshod Sharifi/Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. Gustavo Carballal/Grant Partrick (NGCSU) 8-3

2. Franklyn Emmanuel/Dananjaya Mayadunne (FMU) def. Marijn Bal/Vlad Lumezeanu (NGCSU) 8-6

3. Matthew Keth/Karl Rogers (FMU) def. Daniel Aguilon/Santiago Carballal (NGCSU) 8-4

 

Match Notes: 2008 PBC Men's Tennis Championships - Consolation Round

North Georgia 6-12 ; Francis Marion University 15-5; National ranking #19; Regional ranking #4

T-2:55 A-50