March 3, 2007

Las Vegas, Nev. - The Furman women's tennis team picked up a much-needed victory over Boston College on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Eagles 5-2 at Fertitta Tennis Complex on the campus of UNLV. The Lady Paladins improve to 2-7 on the year, while the loss snaps BC's (5-2) four match winning streak.

Furman earned the first point of the match, cruising to 8-3 victories at number one and number two doubles. Sophomore Laura Gioia and junior Natasa Manojlovic topped Dasha Cherkasova and Alina Sullivan at the top flight. Senior Jacqueline Eckert and junior Lauren Osborne were victorious over Lauren Cash and Brittany Delaney at position two.

The Lady Paladins posted strong singles wins, earning three victories in straight sets at number one, five and six. Senior Bonnie Baird defeated Cash in a tiebreaker, 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 (5) at position three. Gioia, who has lost only one spring singles match, knocked off Lana Krasnopolsky 6-3, 6-2 at number one. Manojlovic and sophomore Lauren Tomory also contributed wins in the Furman victory.

Furman will return home to begin conference play when it hosts Elon University on Saturday, March 10 at 1 p.m.

Furman 5, Boston College 2

Doubles
1. Gioia/Manojlovic (FURMAN) def. Cherkasov/Sullivan (BC) 8-3
2. Eckert/Osborne (FURMAN) def. Cash/Delaney (BC) 8-3
3. Gia Nafarrete/Krasnopolsky (BC) def. Tomory/Lisa Bornt-Davis (FURMAN)
8-6
Singles
1. Laura Gioia (FURMAN) def. Lana Krasnopolsky (BC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Dasha Cherkasova (BC) def. Lauren Osborne (FURMAN) 6-1, 6-2
3. Bonnie Baird (FURMAN) def. Lauren Cash (BC) 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 (10-5)
4. Alina Sullivan (BC) def. Jacqueline Eckert (FURMAN) 6-3, 6-2
5. Lauren Tomory (FURMAN) def. Brittany Delaney (BC) 6-3. 6-0
6. Natasa Manojlovic (FURMAN) def. Sara Svoboda (BC) 6-3, 6-3