HOUSTON, TX – Sophomore Tereza Sykorova rallied from down 4-0 in the third and deciding set to win and give seventh-ranked Francis Marion University a dramatic 5-4 win over sixth-ranked Abilene Christian University, Wednesday morning (May 14) in the opening match of the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis National Finals.

The Patriots improve to 23-2 and advance to face third-ranked Lynn University in a national quarterfinal match on Thursday at 10 a.m. (Eastern time) at Houston’s Memorial Park.  Lynn dispatched 34th-ranked Southwest Baptist University 5-0 on Wednesday.

With the two teams deadlocked at 4-4, Sykorova, ranked 10th nationally in singles, and 41st-ranked Irene Squillaci staged a marathon match at the No.1 singles spot. Sykorova won the first set easily 6-2.  She fell behind 4-1 in the second set, rallied to lead 5-4 and had two match points before Squillaci won the set 7-6 by virtue of a 7-3 score in the tiebreaker.

Sykorova then fell behind 4-0 in the third set, rallied to win five straight games to lead 5-4, before Squillaci knotted the match at 5-5.  Sykorova then broke Squillaci’s serve to lead 6-5 and won her own serve to win the match.

Francis Marion trailed 2-1 after doubles play.  The Patriots’ No.2 doubles duo of  Klara Vitkova and Valeska Ibscher won easily 8-1, while at the No. 3 position, Sykorova and Magda Jezovicova suffered their first loss of the season after 24 straight wins, falling 8-5.

After FMU’s Jenny Ludwig and Ibscher won in straight sets at singles spots No. 3 and No. 5, Abilene Christian capture two three-set wins at No.4 and No. 6. That gave the Wildcats a 4-3 advantage.

Nearly as important and dramatic as Sykorova’s win was the victory by FMU senior Sarka Vitkova at No.2 singles that tied the match at 4-4.  She lost 6-2 to 30th-ranked Aina Rafolo in the opening set, but came back to win the next two sets 6-3 and 6-2.

“I am beyond words.  There is nothing left to say,” said FMU head coach Garth Thomson.  “Last week’s win to get to the finals was so big, but to beat the sixth-ranked team and advance to the Elite Eight is certainly the biggest victory yet in our program’s history.  Both Tereza and Sarka had a gut check at the first two singles positions.  Sarka handled the pressure well as she has all season, and Tereza continues to be the backbone of our squad.”

NCAA II National Finals (Sweet 16) in Houston, TX

Women’s Tennis Match Results

Francis Marion University vs Abilene Christian University

May 14, 2008 at Houston, TX

#7 Francis Marion University 5, #6 Abilene Christian University 4

Singles competition

1. #10 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) def. #41 Irene Squillaci (ABIL) 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5

2. #40 Sarka Vitkova (FMU) def. #30 Aina Rafolo (ABIL) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

3. Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. Meagan Brown (ABIL) 6-1, 6-3

4. Jaclyn Walker (ABIL) def. Klara Vitkova (FMU) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5

5. Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Dina Pavlin (ABIL) 7-5, 6-2

6. Sarah Drummond (ABIL) def. Magda Jezovicova (FMU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. #6 Aina Rafolo/Irene Squillaci (ABIL) def. #20 Sarka Vitkova/Jenny Ludwig (FMU) 8-5

2. Klara Vitkova/Valeska Ibscher (FMU) def. Jaclyn Walker/Dina Pavlin (ABIL) 8-1

3. Meagan Brown/Sarah Drummond (ABIL) def. Tereza Sykorova/Magda Jezovicova (FMU) 8-5

Match Notes:

Francis Marion University 23-2; National ranking #7; Regional ranking #2

Abilene Christian University 26-4; National ranking #6

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

NCAA II National Finals (Sweet 16) in Houston, TX