MACON, GA. – Furman downed Mercer, 5-2, Saturday at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center in the Paladins' regular season finale.  

The Bears' Fernando Guardia and Zacharie El Ayat opened doubles play with a 6-1 victory over junior Adam Steryous and sophomore Stefan Rhodes at number three, but the Paladins answered with wins in the remaining doubles matches to take the opening point.  Seniors Ben Horst and Matt Browne topped Arsay Mohanty and Ruben Vanoppen, 6-3, at flight one to set up a decisive flight two match-up where sophomore Cameron Green and rookie Alex Steryous outlasted Arnav Mohanty and Sam Philp, 7-6(6-4), for the point.

Furman captured four singles points, as Adam Steryous came from behind for a 6-7(4-6), 6-4, 6-2 advantage over Philp at number one, and Green  beat Mohanty, 7-6(7-5), 2-6, 2-0, at flight two when the match was retired.  In the third-seeded contest, Brown posted a quick 6-1, 6-4, straight-sets win versus Nicolas Guillon, and sophomore Josh Pistorius bested Mohanty, 6-2, 7-5, at number five.

Mercer tallied two singles points.  Anderson Scarpa defeated Horst, 6-2, 6-4, at number four, and Guardia topped Alex Steryous, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, at flight six.

The Paladins (11-10, 5-2 SoCon) enter the Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will take on No. 6 UNCG Friday at 10:30 a.m. at The Championships Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.  The winner will face either No. 2 Samford or No. 7 Chattanooga on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Julie Paré, Furman Sports Information

Furman 5, Mercer 2
Apr 16, 2016 at Macon, Ga. (LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center)