Box Score Box score

SAVANNAH, Ga. – No. 13 (ITA Division II) Francis Marion University rallied to a 5-4 victory over No. 15 Flagler College in a second round match of the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional Friday afternoon at Bacon Park.

Francis Marion improved to 12-7 on the season and will advance to play second-ranked and tournament host, Armstrong Atlantic State University, tomorrow at 10 a.m. Flagler wrapped p its season with a 14-9 record. FMU won all three matches played against Flagler this season.

The Saints jumped up out to a 2-1 lead against the Patriots after winning two-of-the-three doubles matches. The ninth-ranked duo of David Cotrone (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Christian) and Gino Ramirez (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Dr. Michael Krop HS) edged seventh-ranked Dilshod Sharifi and Oshada Wijemanne 8-6 at No. 1. Harry Snoxell (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Prep) and Tim Hansson (Norrkoping, Sweden/Mercyhurst College) topped Dirk Bair and Jack Bishop 8-5 at No. 2, but Alex Caspari and Karl Rogers salvaged an 8-6 win over Peter Coulis (Bradenton, Fla./Edison Academic Center) and Skyler Engel (New Albany, Ohio/University of Toledo).

Bishop posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Mason Addison (Longwood, Fla./Circle Christian School) at No. 6 to tie the match 2-all. However, Ramirez and Coulis recorded straight set wins at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, to put Flagler back on top 4-2. Rogers posted a big win for Francis Marion at No. 5, topping Hansson 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Then 13th-ranked Wijemanne out-lasted Snoxell at No. 2 singles 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to tie the match at 4-all. The No. 2 ranked player in the country, Sharifi, slipped past the 10th-ranked Cotrone 7-6 (7-4), 5-7 and 6-2 in the deciding match.

#13 Francis Marion 5, #15 Flagler 4
May 07, 2010 at Savannah, Ga. (Bacon Park)

Singles competition
1. #2 Dilshod Sharifi (FMUM) def. #10 David Cotrone (FCM) 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-2
2. #13 Oshada Wijemanne (FMUM) def. Harry Snoxell (FCM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
3. Gino Ramirez (FCM) def. Dirk Bair (FMUM) 7-5, 6-2
4. Peter Coulis (FCM) def. Alex Caspari (FMUM) 6-4, 6-3
5. Karl Rogers (FMUM) def. Tim Hansson (FCM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
6. Jack Bishop (FMUM) def. Mason Addison (FCM) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #9 David Cotrone/Gino Ramirez (FCM) def. #7 Dilshod Sharifi/Oshada Wijemanne (FMUM) 8-6
2. Tim Hansson/Harry Snoxell (FCM) def. Dirk Bair/Jack Bishop (FMUM) 8-5
3. Alex Caspari/Karl Rogers (FMUM) def. Skyler Engel/Peter Coulis (FCM) 8-6

Match Notes
Flagler 14-9; National ranking #15; Regional ranking #6
Francis Marion 12-7; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,3,4,5,2,1)
2010 NCAA Southeast Regional - Second Round
T-4:53 A-75