Box Score SUMTER, S.C. — The Belmont Abbey men's tennis team opened up its 2024 Conference Carolinas Tournament run with a 4-1 win against No. 6 seed Francis Marion Friday afternoon at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
 
The Crusaders defeated the Patriots for the second time in a week as the team took two of three matches in doubles play before winning three of the four completed matches in singles play to seal the match.
 
Tim Stemler earned wins in both singles and doubles play for the Crusaders while Christian Winstead earned the clinching point in No. 2 singles to book the ticket back to the semifinals for Belmont Abbey.
 
The Crusaders move to 23-19 overall and advance to face No. 2 seed Emmanuel at 9 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals.
 
Francis Marion is now 12-8 overall.
 
RESULTS
DOUBLES

1. Chase Martin/Jackson Korta (BAC) def. Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU), 6-4
2. Austin Vienna/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. Christian Winstead/Nicholas Cary (BAC), 6-2
3. Tim Stemler/Noelle Andrey Ampong (BAC) def. Pedro Caro/Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU), 6-3 

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
 
SINGLES

1. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Chase Martin (BAC), 6-2, 6-0
2. Christian Winstead (BAC) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Nicholas Cary (BAC) vs. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU), 3-6, 6-3, 2-2 (unfinished)
4. Tim Stemler (BAC) def. Ben Scott (FMU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Andres Golindano vs. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU), 4-6, 5-2 (unfinished)
6. Kai Lloveras (BAC) def. Adam Ernberg (FMU), 6-3, 6-2

Order of Finish: 4, 1, 6, 2