BOONE, N.C. – Following a protest by Furman head men's tennis coach Kelly Jones, the Paladins' match at Appalachian State on Thursday was officially declared a 3-3 tie.  Jones protested the Mountaineers' singles line-up for the match, and a Southern Conference committee voted unanimously (4-0) to render the number six singles match a no contest, thus rendering the tie.

The Mountaineers swept the doubles matches to clinch the opening point.  The duo of Philip Klock and Sebastien King defeated sophomores Alex Christ and Joel Cook, 8-6, in the top contest, and Alex Markov and Alain Humblet combined for an 8-3 victory over juniors Tyler Droll and Andrew Mellow in the second-seeded match.  At number three doubles, Andrew McKinnon and Steve Karendal notched an 8-2 win over freshmen Luke Synn and Jacob Behal. 

Humblet bested Cook, 6-2, 6-2, in the third singles match to put Appalachian State up 2-0, but the Paladins tied the score after Mellow defeated Markov, 6-1, 6-1, at number one singles, then Christ tallied a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Kloc in the second-seeded match-up.

Furman took a 3-2 lead when Behal topped McKinnon, 6-2, 6-3, at number five singles, but Steve Karendal recorded a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win over junior Robbie Aru at number four singles to seal the 3-3 tie.

Furman (8-13-1, 5-3-1 SoCon) will conclude the 2012 regular season Saturday when the Paladins entertain Wofford at 1 p.m.

Appalachian State 3, Furman 3
Apr 12, 2012 at Boone, N.C. (ASU Tennis Courts)