April 24, 2010

Results

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Sophomore Susan Bitetti's three-set victory over Rebecca Kirven at number five singles gave the Furman women's tennis team a 4-3 victory over Samford Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Southern Conference Tournament in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and clinched the Paladins spot in the league championship match scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The win avenged a 6-1 loss by the Paladins to the Bulldogs during the regular season.

Bitetti took the first set, 6-3 before falling to Kivern, 6-4 in the second set. Bitetti battled back to take the third set, 6-2 which proved to be the deciding point as Furman (16-7) came away with the win.

After Samford claimed the doubles point, freshman Michele Stanford gave the Paladins their first point of the match with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Stephanie Parkinson at No. 4 singles. The Paladins then moved to a 2-1 lead with a 6-3, 6-2 victory by junior Monica Arguello over Taylor Morgan at No. 1 singles.

Samford (17-6) then won two consecutive matches to take a 3-2 lead as Madelie van Rensburg posted a 6-3, 6-1 win over senior Jessica Preeg at No. 3 singles. Lindsey Mallory topped junior Jennifer Betts, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6 singles for Samford.

Furman freshman Lauren Kline knotted the match at 3-3 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Andrie Meiring at No. 2 singles.

Parkison and van Rensburg clinched the doubles point for Samford with an 8-4 win over Stanford and freshman Olivia Maurice at No. 3 doubles. Furman's team of Kline and Arguello opened doubles play with an 8-3 victory over Mallory and Morgan at No. 1 doubles. Samford's Andrie Meiring and Rebecca Kirven evened doubles competition with an 8-5 win over Preeg and Betts at No. 2. doubles.

The Paladins will face College of Charleston in the championship match Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Furman 4, Samford 3 Apr 24, 2010 at Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Patriots Point) Singles competition 1. Monica Arguello (FUR) def. Taylor Morgan (SAM) 6-3, 6-2 2. Lauren Kline (FUR) def. Andrie Meiring (SAM) 6-3, 6-4 3. Madelie van Rensburg (SAM) def. Jessica Preeg (FUR) 6-3, 6-1 4. Michele Stanford (FUR) def. Stephanie Parkison (SAM) 6-3, 6-1 5. Susan Bitetti (FUR) def. Rebecca Kirven (SAM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 6. Lindsey Mallory (SAM) def. Jennifer Betts (FUR) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition 1. Lauren Kline/Monica Arguello (FUR) def. Lindsey Mallory/Taylor Morgan (SAM) 8-3 2. Andrie Meiring/Rebecca Kirven (SAM) def. Jessica Preeg/Jennifer Betts (FUR) 8-5 3. Stephanie Parkison/Madelie van Rensburg (SAM) def. Michele Stanford/Olivia Maurice (FUR) 8-4

Match Notes Furman 16-7 Samford 17-6 Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,1,3,6,2,5)