AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's tennis team, ranked 32nd in NCAA Division II, lost its 2005 home opener to 23rd ranked Francis Marion University on Tuesday at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex in Aiken, S.C. The Pacers fall to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Peach Belt Conference play. The Patriots improve to 5-1 and 1-1 in the PBC. 

The doubles team of Nicolas Lombardo and Carlos Huerta defeated Alex Cury and Chatwinder Singh, 9-7, in the number one doubles match.

Nikesh Singh earned USCA's lone singles victory by beating Roshun Razik, 6-0 and 6-4, in the number six singles match.

The Pacers will return to action on Feb. 24 when they travel to Jefferson City, Tenn., to face Carson-Newman College at 3:30 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Francis Marion University vs USC Aiken
Feb 15, 2005 at Aiken, S.C.

#23 Francis Marion University 7, #32 USC Aiken 2
Singles competition:
1. #16 Kevin Taylor (FMU) def. Pierre Negri (USCA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
2. Chatwinder Singh (FMU) def. Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) def. Huerta, Carlos (USCA) 6-1, 0-6, 6-4
4. Alex Cury (FMU) def. Fernando Guevara (USCA) 7-5, 7-6
5. Igor Prielozny (FMU) def. Fernando Blanco (USCA) 1-6, 6-2, 10-2
6. Nikesh Singh (USCA) def. Roshun Razik (FMU) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles competition:
1. Nicolas Lombardo/Huerta, Carlos (USCA) def. Alex Cury/Chatwinder Singh (FMU) 8-5
2. Kevin Taylor/Franklyn Emmanuel (FMU) def. Fernando Blanco/Nikesh Singh (USCA) 9-7
3. Roshun Razik/Igor Prielozny (FMU) def. Pierre Negri/Fernando Guevara (USCA) 8-3

Match Notes:
Francis Marion University 5-1 (1-1 PBC); National ranking #23; Regional ranking #8
USC Aiken 2-3 (0-2 PBC); National ranking #32; Regional ranking #12