2007 Mid-Atlantic Regional: No. 16 Francis Marion 5, No. 17 GCSU 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-3-07

2007 Mid-Atlantic Regional: No. 16 Francis Marion 5, No. 17 GCSU 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – No. 16-ranked Francis Marion picked up a 5-3 victory over No. 17-ranked GCSU in the first round of the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Women's Tennis Regional in Savannah on Thursday. The Patriots now advance to the region championship match, where they will face top seed and No. 2-ranked AASU at 10:00 a.m.

The Patriots (16-7) split the first two doubles matches with GCSU (20-8). At No. 3 doubles, the Francis Marion duo of Magda Jezovicova and Elizabeth Lee trailed Gabby Acuna and Anna Davidsson, 6-5, but earned two service breaks to close out the match, 8-6, and give the Patriots a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

Sofia Intriago picked up a quick 6-0, 6-1 win over Lee to even up the score at 2-all, but the Patriots closed out the match with singles wins from Jenny Ludwig, 7-5, 6-3 over Marjorie Ceppo at No. 3 singles, Sarah Hickman, 6-2, 6-0 over Acuna at No. 6 singles and the clinching win of Kamini Murugaboopathy, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, over Sara Skagegard at No. 2 singles.

The win was the second for the Patriots over the Bobcats in two weeks' time - FMU knocked off GCSU, 5-2, in the Peach Belt Conference tournament. It also sets up a rematch of the Mid-Atlantic Region final from last season, in which the host Pirates won, 5-0.

- Pirates -

2007 Mid-Atlantic Regional - First Round

Francis Marion 5, GCSU 3

Singles
#1 - Celine Martin (GCSU) def. Sarka Vitkova (FMU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-0
#2 - Kamini Murugaboopathy (FMU) def. Sara Skagegard (GCSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
#3 - Jenny Ludwig (FMU) def. Marjorie Ceppo (GCSU) 7-5, 6-3
#4 - Magda Jezovicova (FMU) and Anna Davidsson (GCSU) 2-6, 6-2, 2-2, match stopped, clinched
#5 - Sofia Intriago (GCSU) def. Elizabeth Lee (FMU) 6-0, 6-1
#6 - Sarah Hickman (FMU) def. Gabby Acuna (GCSU) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles
#1 - Vitkova/Ludwig (FMU) def. Ceppo/Martin (GCSU) 8-6
#2 - Intriago/Skagegard (GCSU) def. Maria Covell/Murugaboopathy (FMU) 8-4
#3 - Jezovicova/Lee (FMU) def. Acuna/Davidsson (GCSU) 8-6
Records: FMU (16-7), GCSU (20-8)