April 6, 2006

Cullowhee, NC - Western Carolina nearly picked up its first-ever point against the 13-time Southern Conference tournament champion Lady Paladins on Thursday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex, but a late rally at number one helped preserve the shutout as Furman blanked the Catamounts, 7-0.

The loss relegates Western to 3-15 on the season, 0-7 in Southern Conference action while Furman captured its sixth-straight victory to improve to 13-6 overall, 6-0 in league play.

Due to threatening skies, the two squads opened the match in singles competition in five of the six flights as Western defaulted the number six position to give the Lady Paladins the 1-0 edge. Furman took control in the match as freshman Natasha Manojlovic defeated WCU freshman walk-on, Carley Abbott, in straight sets at number five, 6-0, 6-0.

The Lady Paladins added the winning points at number two and four, respectively, as sophomore Susanna Sjokvist fell 6-0, 6-1 to Furman junior Bonnie Baird and freshman Holly Stocks won two games in each set, but fell by identical scores of 6-2 to junior Jacqueline Eckert. The three singles wins, coupled with the default at number six, gave Furman the match victory.

Finishing fourth at the number three seed, sophomore Mariona Trilla Jane fell to Furman's Lauren Tomory, 6-1 and 6-3.

The best match of the day, and Western Carolina's best opportunity to break the scoreless-streak versus Furman which dates back to 1998, was contested at number one between sophomores Trish Hanson of Western and Furman's Lauren Osborne. After Western Carolina's Hanson won the first set 6-4, Lauren Osborne bounced back with a 6-0 win in the second set and went on the claim the match with a 10-3 win in the third set tiebreaker.

In doubles competition, Western dropped both contested matches by identical, 8-2, tallies. At number one, Hanson/Trilla Jane fell to Osborne/Eckert, while Furman's Tomory teamed with senior Shannon Moore to claim victory at number two.

The Lady Paladins return home on Sunday for a noon match up against College of Charleston.

Singles

1. Lauren Osborne (FU) def. Trish Hanson (WCU) 4-6, 6-0 (10-3)

2. Bonnie Baird (FU) def. Susanna Sjokvist (WCU) 6-0, 6-1

3. Lauren Tomory (FU) def. Mariona Trilla Jane (WCU) 6-1, 6-3

4. Jacqueline Eckert (FU) def. Holly Stocks (WCU) 6-2, 6-2

5. Natasha Manojlovic (FU) def. Carley Abbott (WCU) 6-0, 6-0

6. Lisa Bornt-Davis (FU) won by default

Doubles

1. Eckert/Osborne (FU) def. Hanson/Trilla Jane (WCU) 8-2

2. Moore/Tomory (FU) def, Sjovkst/Stocks (WCU) 8-2

3. Baird/Manojlovic (FU) won by default