No. 5 Pacers Advance To Region Final With 5-1 Win Over No. 25 Francis Marion

SAVANNAH, Ga. - A program-high ranking for the USC Aiken men's tennis team now accompanies a berth in the NCAA DII Men's Tennis Southeast Region final as the No. 5-ranked Pacers defeated No. 25 Francis Marion, 5-1, on Friday afternoon in Savannah.

USC Aiken (19-4) will play at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday against the winner of AASU and Lander for a chance to advance to its first-ever Round of 16. Francis Marion (16-6) sees its bid for consecutive trips to the Round of 16 come to an end.

The Pacers took a 2-1 lead after doubles as the No. 22-ranked duo of Filipe Garcia and Bruno Seves notched an 8-4 win over Jack Bishop and Matthew Keth at No. 2 doubles, while Gregory Andrade and Chris Kaetz defeated Dirk Bair and Karl Rogers, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles. Francis Marion's doubles point came at No. 1 doubles in a duel of top 10-ranked teams - No. 6 Dilshod Sharifi and Oshada Wijemanne picking up an 8-3 win over No. 9-ranked Dagoberto Darezzo and Edward Horne.

Kaetz gave USC Aiken its first singles point with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Bastian Czwalinna at No. 4 singles, then Andrade defeated Bair, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 6 singles. Horne came up with the clinching point, winning the final three games of the third set to outlast Rogers, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and send the Pacers into Saturday's final.

Francis Marion University vs USC Aiken (May 08, 2009)
#5 USC Aiken 5, #25 Francis Marion University 1
May 08, 2009 at Savannah, Ga. (AASU Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. #6 Bruno Seves (USCAM) vs. #10 Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) 5-7, 2-5, unfinished
2. #21 Dagoberto Darezzo (USCAM) vs. #22 Dilshod Sharifi (FMU) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0, unfinished
3. Edward Horne (USCAM) def. Karl Rogers (FMU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Chris Kaetz (USCAM) def. Bastian Czwalinna (FMU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Filipe Garcia (USCAM) vs. Jack Bishop (FMU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
6. Gregory Andrade (USCAM) def. Dirk Bair (FMU) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #6 Dilshod Sharifi/Oshada Wijemanne (FMU) def. #9 Dagoberto Darezzo/Edward Horne (USCAM) 8-3
2. #22 Filipe Garcia/Bruno Seves (USCAM) def. Jack Bishop/Matthew Keth (FMU) 8-4
3. Gregory Andrade/Chris Kaetz (USCAM) def. Dirk Bair/Karl Rogers (FMU) 8-6

Match Notes
Francis Marion University 16-6; National ranking #25
USC Aiken 19-4; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,6,3)
2009 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional - Second Round
USC Aiken advances to Region final at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday