GREENVILLE, S.C. -- With the teams tied at 3-apiece, sophomore Madison Dillon battled back to defeat Caisey Lee Emery, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(2) at flight four singles as 39th-ranked Furman outlasted Liberty, 4-3, Saturday at the Cook Tennis Center in Lynchburg, Va.  Dillon, who was down 5-2 and 40-0 in the third set, saved seven match points for the victory.  

The Flames won two of three doubles matches to claim the first point.  Paladin sophomores Madison Dillon and Julia Adams, who rank 38th nationally, blanked Tiffany Nguyen and Michaela Ode Mitre, 6-0, in the top-seeded match up, then Esther Lovato and Eloise Saraty evened the slate with a 6-1 victory over freshman Maggie Pate and senior Danni Vines at flight three.  In the decisive flight two contest, Alexandra Almborg and Emery held off juniors MaryAnn Rompf and Georgie Walker, 6-4, for the point. 

Liberty stretched the lead to 2-0 after Lovato defeated Walker, 6-2, 6-1, at flight three, but the Paladins rallied to tie it at 2-all when Pate topped Ode Mitre, 6-4, 6-3, at number five, then Vines came from behind for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, advantage over Saraty at flight six.  

Nguyen topped Rompf, 6-4, 6-4, at flight two to put the Flames back on top, 3-2, but Adams, who was down 5-1 in the third set, came from behind to topple Almborg, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, at flight one and tie the match at 3-all, setting up the decisive flight four contest.

"That was a crazy match," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen.  "I don't think either team played its best, and we were in a lot of trouble, but I give our girls a lot of credit for hanging around long enough to get it done.  We will get some rest tonight and be ready for a big battle with VCU tomorrow."

Furman (9-3) will square off against VCU in Lynchburg, Va., on Sunday at noon.

Furman vs. Liberty • Feb. 22, 2020 at Lynchburg, Va. • Cook Tennis Center

#39 Furman 4, Liberty 3

Singles competition

1. Julia Adams (FUR) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5

2. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) def. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) 6-4, 6-4

3. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Georgie Walker (FUR) 6-2, 6-1

4. Madison Dillon (FUR) def. Caisey Lee Emery (LIBERTYW) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2)

5. Maggie Pate (FUR) def. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) 6-4, 6-3

6. Danni Vines (FUR) def. Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #38 Madison Dillon/Julia Adams (FUR) def. Tiffany Nguyen/Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) 6-0

2. Alexandra Almborg/Caisey Lee Emery (LIBERTYW) def. MaryAnn Rompf/Georgie Walker (FUR) 6-4

3. Esther Lovato/Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) def. Maggie Pate/Danni Vines (FUR) 6-1

Match Notes: Furman 9-3; National ranking #39 • Liberty 4-4

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

Official: B Harrison/J Conley T-2:58