Pirates outduel Patriots in tennis semifinals

JONESBORO, GA – The 13th-ranked and fourth-seeded Francis Marion University tennis teams both lost to top-ranked and top-seeded Armstrong Atlantic State University in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, Saturday (April 17) at the Clayton County Tennis Center.

The Patriot women lost 5-0 to the unbeaten two-time defending national champions (26-0), while the FMU men lost 5-1 to the 26-1 Pirates.

Francis Marion, now 16-5 on the women’s side and 11-7 for the men, will now await the announcement of the NCAA Division II National Tournament field to see if they receive an at-large invitation. AASU advances to Sunday’s championship matches.

The Patriot men’s lone win came at No.1 doubles where Dilshod Sharifi and Oshada Wijemanne, ranked sixth nationally, beat the nation’s top doubles squad by an 8-4 score.

Men’s Tennis Match Results

Apr 17, 2010 at Jonesboro, Georgia

#1 Armstrong Atlantic State 5, #13 Francis Marion University 1

Singles competition

1. #6 Mikk Irdoja (AASU) vs. #1 Dilshod Sharifi (FMUM) unfinished

2. #11 Eudaldo Bonet (AASU) vs. #14 Oshada Wijemanne (FMUM) unfinished

3. #7 Rafael Array (AASU) def. Dirk Bair (FMUM) 6-0, 6-2

4. #37 Matus Mydla (AASU) vs. Alex Caspari (FMUM) unfinished

5. Daniel Regan (AASU) def. Karl Rogers (FMUM) 6-0, 6-0

6. Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) def. Jack Bishop (FMUM) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. #6 Oshada Wijemanne/Dilshod Sharifi (FMUM) def. #1 Rafael Array/Mikk Irdoja (AASU) 8-4

2. Matus Mydla/Daniel Regan (AASU) def. Dirk Bair/Jack Bishop (FMUM) 8-2

3. Eudaldo Bonet/Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) def. Karl Rogers/Alex Caspari (FMUM) 8-5

Match Notes:

Francis Marion University 11-7; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #4

Armstrong Atlantic State 26-1; National ranking #1; Regional ranking #1

2010 Peach Belt Conference Men's Tennis Tournament - Semifinals

Armstrong Atlantic advances to Sunday's Peach Belt Conference Championship

T-2:22

Women’s Tennis Match Results

Apr 17, 2010 at Jonesboro, Georgia

#1 Armstrong Atlantic State 5, #13 Francis Marion University 0

Singles competition

1. #2 Sona Novakova (AASU) vs. #9 Tereza Sykorova (FMU) unfinished

2. #4 Alida Muller-Wehlau (AASU) vs. #36 Sabina Baberadova (FMU) unfinished

3. #21 Gabriella Kovacs (AASU) vs. #34 Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) unfinished

4. #27 Martina Beckmann (AASU) vs. Mona Blauen (FMU) unfinished

5. #41 Kathleen Henry (AASU) def. Kerry Hall (FMU) 6-4, 6-1

6. Alisa Kagukina (AASU) def. Karine Augur (FMU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. #3 Martina Beckmann/Alida Muller-Wehlau (AASU) def. #2 Tereza Sykorova/Sabina Baberadova (FMU) 8-5

2. #4 Gabriella Kovacs/Sona Novakova (AASU) def. #13 Mona Blauen/Jitka Gavdunova (FMU) 8-4

3. Kathleen Henry/Alisa Kagukina (AASU) def. Kerry Hall/Karine Augur (FMU) 8-0

Match Notes:

Francis Marion University 16-5; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #4

Armstrong Atlantic State 26-0; National ranking #1; Regional ranking #1

2010 Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Semifinals

Armstrong Atlantic advances to Sunday's Peach Belt Conference Championship

T-2:15