Stan Roffe combined with Brahm Moolman for a win at No. 3 doubles and clinched the team win with a straight-set victory at No. 4 singles as University of Mount Olive defeated nationally 17th-ranked Francis Marion 5-4 in non-conference men's tennis Sunday at Walker Tennis Center. The contest, Mount Olive's home opener, marked the highest ranked men's tennis opponent the Trojans have beaten in school history.
Mount Olive (5-1) entered singles play with a 2-1 lead after a pair of close doubles wins. Roffe and Moolman won 8-6, while Henric Falkenberg and Matt Finnerty posted a 9-7 victory at No. 2 doubles.
The Trojans posted wins at the top two singles flights to move within a point of winning the overall match. Edgar Bub won 6-0, 7-6 at No. 1 singles and Finnerty held on for a 6-4,4-6, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles.
Francis Marion (1-1) stayed in the match with a win at No. 3 singles before Roffe sealed the Trojans' win. Roffe took the opening set 6-3 and clinched the team victory with a 7-5 win in the second set.
Mount Olive is idle until February 20 when the Trojans play host to Chowan in a non-conference contest. Match time is 2:30 p.m. at Walker Tennis Center.