Patriot Women cruise, Men bit by upset Bulldogs

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FLORENCE, SC - The 25th-ranked Francis Marion University women's tennis team cruised to a 9-0 blanking of 40th-ranked Wingate University on Tuesday afternoon (March 20), while the 13th-ranked FMU men were upset by Wingate in a very tight match 5-4.

The Patriot women improve to 10-1, while the men drop to 7-3 with the non-conference loss. The women's squad will play host to the University of Montevallo for a Peach Belt Conference match on Thursday at 3 p.m. Both FMU squads will then travel to nationally ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University on March 31.

The Patriot women did not lose a set in beating the Bulldogs, who drop to 9-3. Senior Jitka Gavdunova, ranked ninth nationally, and 17th-ranked Mona Blauen both won by 6-1, 6-1 scores at the top two singles positions. Blauen is unbeaten in singles play this season.

Other singles winners were 38th-ranked Tereza Baranova at No.3, Kimberley Hurter at No. 4, Julia Graf at No.5, and Kerry Hall at No.6.

Wingate (8-5) took a 2-1 advantage after doubles play when Diego Martinez and Ryan Forbes edged Dirk Bair and Tim Ruepke 7-3 in a tie-breaker to win 9-8 at the No.3 spot.

FMU took straight-set singles victories at No.1 (Alex Caspari), No.5 (Tim Ruepke), and No.6 (Dirk Bair), but Wingate claimed three-set decisions at positions 2, 3, and 4 to register the required five points for the win.

Men's Tennis Match Results
Mar 20, 2012 at Florence, SC

Wingate University 5, #13 Francis Marion University 4

Singles competition
1. Alex Caspari (FMUM) def. Flavio Rathsam (WU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Andrew Owen (WU) def. Jack Bishop (FMUM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. #46 Matthew Lichtenstein (WU) def. Gavin Davison (FMUM) 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
4. Diego Martinez (WU) def. Jonathan Hain (FMUM) 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
5. Tim Ruepke (FMUM) def. Neal Towlson (WU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Dirk Bair (FMUM) def. Ryan Forbes (WU) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #19 Alex Caspari/Gavin Davison (FMUM) def. Flavio Rathsam/Neal Towlson (WU) 8-2
2. Andrew Owen/Matthew Lichtenstein (WU) def. Jack Bishop/Jonathan Hain (FMUM) 9-7
3. Diego Martinez/Ryan Forbes (WU) def. Dirk Bair/Tim Ruepke (FMUM) 9-8 (7-3)

Match Notes: Wingate University 8-5
Francis Marion University 7-3; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #6
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Women's Tennis Match Results

Mar 20, 2012 at Florence, SC

#25 Francis Marion University 9, #40 Wingate University 0

Singles competition

1. #9 Jitka Gavdunova (FMUW) def. Ali Evers (WU) 6-1, 6-1

2. #17 Mona Blauen (FMUW) def. Becca Thomas (WU) 6-1, 6-1

3. #38 Tereza Baranova (FMUW) def. Olivia Poole (WU) 6-3, 6-0

4. Kimberley Hurter (FMUW) def. Morgan Winston (WU) 6-4, 6-3

5. Julia Graf (FMUW) def. Tiffany Williams (WU) 6-0, 6-2

6. Kerry Hall (FMUW) def. Helen Goreski (WU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #9 Jitka Gavdunova/Mona Blauen (FMUW) def. Ali Evers/Becca Thomas (WU) 8-1

2. Tereza Baranova/Julia Graf (FMUW) def. Olivia Poole/Tiffany Williams (WU) 8-3

3. Kerry Hall/Caitlin Siney (FMUW) def. Morgan Winston/Samantha Alschlager (WU) 8-5

Match Notes: Wingate University 9-3; National ranking #40; Regional ranking #8

Francis Marion University 10-1; National ranking #25; Regional ranking #6

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