The Patriots up their program-best record to 22-2 and advance to the Division II national finals (Sweet 16) for the first time in the program’s history. The nationals will be held May 14-17 in Houston, Texas. FMU will face either Northeastern State University or Abilene Christian University in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Columbus State ends its season at 20-8.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead with a win at No. 2 doubles before the unbeaten duo of Tereza Sykorova and Magda Jezovicova won 8-4 at No. 3 doubles to even the match. The Patriot pair is now 24-0 this season. At No. 1 doubles, Francis Marion’s Sarka Vitkova and Jenny Ludwig took a 7-2 lead only to watch CSU’s Agata Polcyn and Lindsey Groenewald win four straight games to pull to within 7-6. However, Vitkova and Ludwig recovered to win the next game and the match 8-6.
FMU sophomore Valeska Ibscher gained a quick 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles to give FMU a 3-1 advantage. Columbus State trimmed that margin to 3-2 when Roxana Dondera won 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
At No. 1 singles, Sykorova won the opening set 6-1, but Polcyn took set two 6-2. Sykorova, ranked 10 nationally, then squeaked out a 7-5 win in the third set to put Francis Marion up 4-2. Again CSU cut the deficit as Gabriela Vasilescu beat Ludwig in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) at No. 3 singles.
With the Cougars’ Erin Reynolds holding a lead at the No. 6 singles position, Klara Vitkova then pulled off her comeback to give FMU its biggest team win in program history.
Francis Marion head coach Garth Thomson:
“This is the biggest win in team history. I am so happy with our effort, and extremely impressed with Tereza’s (Sykorova) comeback at No. 1 and Klara’s (Vitkova) close out at No. 4.
In doubles, we played well at No. 3 and were very fortunate at No. 1. But that win at No. 1 doubles gave us the momentum heading into singles competition. Then when Valeska (Ibscher) got a quick win to put us up 3-1 it put us in an enviable position, although the match was far from over.”
I am just so proud of the squad and very excited for the ladies and the school.”
Columbus State coach Evan Isaacs:
“My squad fought very hard. Both teams played well, Francis Marion just played the bigger points a bit better. FMU played with a lot of class too. I knew it would be a long and tough match. It has been a good season with a chance for us to still finish with a Top 10 ranking.”
NCAA II Women's Tennis National Tournament second-round match in Florence, SC
Women’s Tennis Match Results
Columbus State University vs Francis Marion University
May 09, 2008 at Florence, SC
#7 Francis Marion University 5, #10 Columbus State University 3
Singles competition
1. #10 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. #20 Agata Polcyn (CSU) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
2. #38 Roxana Dondera (CSU) def. #40 Sarka Vitkova (FMU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Gabriela Vasilescu (CSU) def. Jenny Ludwig (FMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Klara Vitkova (FMU) def. Daniela Castillo (CSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Lindsey Groenewald (CSU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Magda Jezovicova (FMU) vs. Erin Reynolds (CSU) 6-7 (2-7), 3-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #20 Sarka Vitkova/Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. #19 Agata Polcyn/Lindsey Groenewald (CSU) 8-6
2. Roxana Dondera/Gabriela Vasilescu (CSU) def. Klara Vitkova/Valeska Ibscher (FMU) 8-5
3. Magda Jezovicova/Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. Erin Reynolds/Daniela Castillo (CSU) 8-4
Match Notes:
Columbus State University 20-8; National ranking #10; Regional ranking #3
Francis Marion University 22-2; National ranking #7; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,2,1,3,4)
NCAA II Women's Tennis National Tournament second-round match in Florence, SC
Official: Don Dobbins T-4:06 A-50
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