March 10, 2007

Greenville, S.C. - The Furman women's tennis team opened the Southern Conference season with a 7-0 win over the visiting Elon Phoenix on Saturday afternoon at Mickel Tennis Center. The Lady Paladins (3-7) have won 71 consecutive league matches and have not lost a conference opener since the 1996-97 season. Elon (6-6) has never beaten the Lady Paladins.

Furman only gave up three total points in the doubles matches, quickly taking a 1-0 lead in the match. Laura Gioia and Natasa Manojlovic improved to 7-3 this spring with an 8-1 victory over Deanna Bailey and Jenn Tucci at flight one. Lisa Bornt-Davis and Lauren Tomory shutout Elon's Kelley Moore and Francie Rudolph at position three.

The Lady Paladins swept the singles matches in straight sets to earn their fifth consecutive shutout win over the Phoenix. At number five, Tomory earned her fourth straight win with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Butcher. Gioia, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week, topped Bailey, 6-1, 6-0, to improve to 9-1 this spring.

Furman will host Winthrop in a non-conference tilt on Thursday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Furman 7, Elon 0
Doubles
1. Laura Gioia/Natasa Manojlovic (FU) def. Deanna Bailey/Jenn Tucci (Elon) 8-1
2. Lauren Osborne/Jacqueline Eckert (FU) def. Paige Kensrue/Whitney Butcher (Elon) 8-2
3. Lisa Bornt-Davis/Lauren Tomory (FU) def. Kelley Moore/Francie Rudolph (Elon) 8-0
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles
1. Gioia (FU) def. Bailey (Elon) 6-1, 6-0
2. Osborne (FU) def. Tucci (Elon) 6-4, 6-1
3. Bonnie Baird (FU) def. Kensrue (Elon) 6-3, 6-1
4. Eckert (FU) def. Moore (Elon) 6-2, 6-5
5. Tomory (FU) def. Butcher (Elon) 6-0, 6-0
6. Manojlovic (FU) def. Rudolph (Elon) 6-0, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 6, 2, 3, 4