SUMTER, S.C. – Four Lee University tennis players competed in the ITA Division II Men's and Women's Southeast Regional Championships this past weekend at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
Fancisco Faria went 3-1 and reached the quarterfinal round, while Wihan Van Der Merwe was 2-1 after falling in the round of 16. The duo combined to reach the round of 16 in the Men's Open Doubles with a 1-1 record.
Ashleigh Simes was 2-1 and reached the round of 16 in the Women's Open Singles competition. Maria Duarte was 1-1 for the weekend and reached the round of 64. Simes and Duarte posted a 4-1 record in the Women's Open Doubles bracket and made it to the semifinals.
Coach Patric Hines' Thoughts:
"Overall, this was a strong regional tournament for us. The way these four represented our program is something that gives me great comfort. If everyone on our teams can find a way to compete like these four did this week, our programs are going to be in good shape."
RESULTS
Men's Open Singles:
Francisco Faria
R128 – Bye
R64 – def. Andrea Sandrone (Columbus State) 6-4, 6-2
R32 – def. Anton Krondell (Tusculum) 6-4, 6-3
R16 – def. Ambroise Marchand (Lander) 6-4, 6-2
Quarterfinal – lost to Gabriel Constantino (Wingate) 3-6, 6-3, 0-2 retired
Hines on Faria's Singles Play:
"It was a lion-hearted performance by Kiko. He fought as hard as he could, but his body just let him down at the wrong moment today. Even at those stages, he refused to lie down, when most players would have packed it in and gone down in straight sets. He battled his way to win the second set, but there was nothing left, he emptied the tank. Very proud of his tournament though. Excellent tournament for him."
Wihan Van Der Merwe
R128 – Bye
R64 – def Elias Peter (Columbus State) 6-4, 6-2
R32 – def. Markus Sorensen (Lander) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
R16 – lost to Philipp Lemken (Flagler) 2-6, 5-7
Hines on Van Der Merwe's Singles Play:
"Wihan has made a great start to the fall and his training has gone up a level this year. He took huge strides here. To reach the round of 16 in a loaded field speaks volumes about the level that he's playing at right now."
Men's Open Doubles:
Faria/Van Der Merwe
R64 – Bye
R32 – def. Marc Janse/Yehor Opanasenko (Carson-Newman) 8-5
R16 – lost 2-8 to Elias Peter/Daniel Hammond (Columbus State)
Hines on Men's Doubles:
"We just ran into a great Columbus State team who jumped out of the gates early. Against a team like that, you need a fast start, but it's ok. Our guys will learn."
Women's Open Singles:
Ashleigh Simes
R128 – Bye
R64 – def. Run Muderrisoglu (Lenoir-Rhyne) 6-2, 6-4
R32 – def. Sofia Cardenas (Newberry) 6-4, 6-3
R16 – lost 4-6, 5-7 to Johanna Lippert (North Georgia)
Hines on Simes' Singles Play:
"It was tough to go out today, but Ash never stopped competing. We just didn't get enough opportunities today, but I'm proud of how hard she fought. Plenty of good days ahead for her this year."
Maria Duarte
R128 – def. Mackenzie McCarthy (Belmont Abbey) 6-4, 6-2
R64 – lost 2-6, 3-6 to Evgeniya (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Hines on Duarte's Singles Play:
"Nanda worked hard on aspects of her game this summer and she's seeing the benefit of that. You always know you're going to get a great attitude and effort on the court from her, and she's a pleasure to coach."
Women's Open Doubles
Simes/Duarte
R64 – def. Teodora Stefanovic/Hanna Vasconez (Erskine) 8-2
R32 – def. Suzuka Sambyakugari/Eva Siska (Wingate) 9-8 (7-5)
R16 – def. Ishita Singh/Rosie Harfield (Newberry) 8-4
Quarterfinal – def. Evgeniya Pugina/Nellie Wahlberg (Lenoir-Rhyne) 8-3
Semifinal – lost 8-2 to Mariana Ramirez/Nikoline Gullacksen (Columbus State)
Hines on Women's Doubles:
"Tremendous tournament for these two. To knock out the #1 and #7 seeds was a huge effort and only good things came out of this tournament for them. Very proud of this result. I think we leaned a lot about ourselves this week."
