FLORENCE, S.C. - The No. 7-ranked Lander men's tennis team won it's first-round match in the Peach Belt Conference Tennis Tournament Thursday when the second-seeded Bearcats defeated No. 29-ranked and seventh-seeded Francis Marion, 5-1, at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Tennis Center. (Tournament Website)

Lander improves to 16-3 overall and advances to Friday's 9 a.m. semifinal against third-seeded and No. 5-ranked Armstrong, a 5-0 winner over sixth-seeded Flagler.

FMU drops to 7-8 and moves to the consolation bracket.

In doubles, No. 1 Gavin Davison/Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. Adam Jonsson/Oscar Axelsson (L) 9-8; No. 2 Vincent Verpeaux/Paulo Fernandes (L) def. Tim Ruepke/Marius Wahlier (FMU) 8-5; and No. 3 Niklas Terhorst/Samuel Poutignat (L) def. J. Roettlingsberger/Eimon Heywood (FMU) 8-3.

In singles, No. 1 Vincent Verpeaux (L) def. Gavin Davison (FMU) 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 Marc Hofer (L) def. #27 Richard Ashforth (FMU) 6-3, 6-3; and No. 5 Diego Zegarra (L) def. Tim Ruepke (FMU) 6-0, 6-0.

The remainder of the singles matches were halted when Lander earned its fifth and match-deciding point.