Hartsville, S.C. – The Coker Men’s Tennis team opened their 2009 season with a 9-0 loss to the national ranked #5 Francis Marion on Sunday afternoon. The loss moves the Cobras to 0-1 on the year, while the Patriots improve to 1-0.

The Patriots got things started with three wins in doubles, with Coker’s Ecuadorian combo of Esteban Teran (Ecuador) and Juan Vallejo Gonzalez (Ecuador) had the closet match at No. 1 doubles, falling to Dilshod Sharifi and Bastian Czwalinna 8-5.

In the singles matches, FMU was dominating yet again, with the Patriots picking up wins at all six spots. Only two Coker players earned wins in both games, as No. 2 Jeremiah Dye (Hilton Head, SC) lost 6-2, 6-1 and No. 4 Teran lost 6-2, 6-4.

Coker returns to the courts on Tuesday, as they travel to face Division I Coastal Carolina at 1:30 p.m.