Feb. 16, 2007

Greenville, S.C. - The Furman women's tennis team played host to the 13th-ranked Clemson Tigers on Friday afternoon, falling 6-1 at Mickel Tennis Center. The Lady Paladins (1-4) continue to face a challenging schedule, with all but one of their opponents thus far ranked in the top 60.

In doubles action, Furman got off to a good start with an 8-5 victory at flight two as Lauren Osborne and Jacqueline Eckert topped Ina Hadziselimovic and Estefania Balda. A Clemson victory at flight three put the pressure on the top doubles combinations. Furman's Laura Gioia and Natasa Manojlovic pulled out to a 6-4 lead, before Clemson's Carol Salge and Federica van Adrichem battled back for an 8-6 win and a 1-0 advantage in the match.

The Tigers were too much for the Lady Paladins in singles, winning all but one of the matches. At number one singles, Gioia earned a 6-4 win in the opening set before her opponent Salge retired due to injury. Gioia has won three straight singles matches.

Furman will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 18 when it hosts Dartmouth at 10 a.m.

Clemson 6, Furman 1

Doubles
1. #37 Salge/van Adrichem (CU) def. Gioia/Manojlovic (FU) 8-6
2. Osborne/Eckert (FU) def. Hadziselimovic/Balda (CU) 8-5
3. Brito/Alexandra Luc (CU) def. Bornt-Davis/Tomory (FU) 8-3

Singles
1. Laura Gioia (FU) def. #72 Carol Salge (CU) 6-4, ret.
2. Estefania Balda (CU) def. Lauren Osborne (FU) 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-1
3. Federica van Adrichem (CU) def. Bonnie Baird (FU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) def. Natasa Manojlovic (FU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Maria Brito (CU) def. Lauren Tomory (FU) 6-5, 6-0
6. Selma Babic (CU) def. Wanjiku Ngaruiya (FU) 6-2, 6-2