RALEIGH, N.C. -- No. 8 N.C. State slipped past Furman, 5-2, Wednesday at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C., in the season opener for both teams.

The Wolfpack won two out of three doubles matches to claim the first point.  At flight one, top-ranked Anna Rogers and Alana Smith defeated sophomores Julia Adams and Madison Dillon, who rank 23rd nationally, 6-1.  Lexi Keberle and Adriana Reami slipped past senior Katarina Kozarov and junior MaryAnn Rompf, 6-4, at flight two.  In the unfinished flight three contest, Furman senior Danni Vines and junior Georgie Walker led Liz Norman and Marta Gonzalez, 5-4.

In singles action, the Paladins picked up wins at flights one and six.  Kozarov, who ranks 13th nationally, blew past 18th-ranked Rogers, 6-2, 6-3, in the top-seeded contest, and Vines recorded a 7-6, 6-0 victory over Dylan Cannon at flight six.

N.C. State's Smith, who ranks 31st nationally, topped Adams, 6-4, 6-0, at flight two, and 23rd-ranked Reami handed Rompf a 6-2, 6-4 loss at flight three.  At number four, Keberle beat Dillon, 6-1, 6-3.  Furman's Walker forced a tiebreaker at flight five, as Norman took the first set, 6-3, and Walker rebounded for a 7-5 advantage in set two.  Normal claimed the tiebreaker, 10-6, for the final point.

"We didn't get the result we wanted today, but our team battled hard, and I am proud of our effort," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen.  " We played really well at some spots and have a lot to build on as we prepare for a big weekend at home."

Furman (0-1) will entertain Georgia Tech Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Paladins' home opener at the Mickel Tennis Center.  

Furman vs NC State 

Jan 15, 2020 at Raleigh, NC

(J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)

#8 NC State Wolfpack 5, Furman 2

Singles competition

1. #13 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. #18 Anna Rogers (NCST) 6-2, 6-3

2. #31 Alana Smith (NCST) def. Julia Adams (FUR) 6-4, 6-0

3. #23 Adriana Reami (NCST) def. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) 6-2, 6-4

4. Lexi Keberle (NCST) def. Madison Dillon (FUR) 6-1, 6-3

5. Liz Norman (NCST) def. Georgie Walker (FUR) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0(10-6)

6. Danni Vines (FUR) def. Dylan Cannon (NCST) 7-6, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. #1 Anna Rogers/Alana Smith (NCST) def. #23 Julia Adams/Madison Dillon (FUR) 6-1

2. Lexi Keberle/Adriana Reami (NCST) def. Katarina Kozarov/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) 6-4 (6-4)

3. Danni Vines/Georgie Walker (FUR) vs. Liz Norman/Marta Gonzalez (NCST) 5-4, unfinished

Match Notes:

Furman 0-1

NC State Wolfpack 1-0; National ranking #8

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,4,1,3,6,5)