SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University tennis teams had to battle the elements on Saturday afternoon as the men's tennis team won a six-hour marathon match 4-3 over No. 38 Francis Marion, while the women's team fell 5-2 to No. 68 Francis Marion.
 
With the win on Saturday afternoon the men's team picked up their first ever win over a nationally ranked opponent. In the doubles portion of the match, the Valkyries top tandem of Louka Queguiner and Leopold Morel defeated the Francis Marion top tandem 6-0. The Patriots evened up the doubles point with a 6-1 win at the No. 3 court. With the pivotal doubles point on the line the Valkyries No. 2 doubles team of Merlin Bellet and Paul Berrouet won in a tie break to give Converse a 1-0 advantage.
 
Going into the singles side of the match the Valkyries looked to continue the momentum against the Patriots lineup. However, Francis Marion tied the match up at 1-1 with a win at the No. 3 singles court. At the No. 1 court Bellet dropped the opening set, but rebounded 6-2, 6-1 in the second and third set to give the Valkyries a slight lead once again.
 
Francis Marion quickly rebounded, however, with wins at both the No. 5 and No. 3 singles flights. Trailing 3-2, the Valkyries looked to make a late move in the final two courts. Cameron Davies won the No. 6 singles court in straight sets to force a winner take all match at the No. 4 flight. Gregoire Legrand dropped the opening set but came back and won the final two sets 6-3, 6-3 to clinch the match for Converse.
 
On the women's side of the draw, the Valkyries got off to a hot start in the doubles portion of the match. The Valkyries top tandem of Tonya Glogowski-Watson and Luiza Estrada defeated the Patriots top tandem 6-4. The No. 2 doubles team of Maria Belen Vendrell and Valentina Aparicio clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 win over the Patriots.
 
In the singles portion of the match the Valkyries struggled against the Patriots, dropping five of the six courts in straight sets. Aparicio picked up the Valkyries lone win at the No. 5 singles court on Saturday afternoon.
 
Next Up:
The Valkyries will stay at home this week with a midweek match against Belmont Abbey on Tuesday afternoon.   
 
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