FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men's tennis team moved up eight positions to eighth in the latest Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings (NCAA Division II Top 40), while the Patriot women remain in the 13th spot.
The Patriot men have won 12 straight matches and are 13-1 overall and 6-1 in the Peach Belt Conference. Nine of the victories have been against nationally ranked opponents, and the squad's lone loss was on the road to then second-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University.
Junior David Budler, who has split time at the No. 1 and 2 singles positions due to an injury to Patriot senior Kevin Taylor, has won his last eight singles matches. Individually, Taylor is fourth nationally in the men's singles rankings, while junior Chatwinder Singh is 17th.
The FMU women are 11-4 overall and 4-3 in the PBC, and have won seven of their last eight matches. The squad is 5-3 against nationally ranked competition.
The women’s No. 2 singles player, sophomore Jenny Ludwig, has won eight straight singles matches and seven straight doubles matches. She is 12-3 on the season in singles and 11-4 in doubles.
The Patriot men will play host to Erskine College, Thursday at 2:30 p.m., while the women will play at 31st-ranked Presbyterian College, Friday at 3 p.m.
Both FMU programs are under the direction of head coach Garth Thomson, who is in his 14th season. He recently captured his 200th win on the men's side with an 8-1 defeat of Mount Olive College. Thomson has compiled a 203-94 career record on the men's side and is 149-131 at the helm of the women's program.
