GREENVILLE, S.C. -- No. 39 Furman battled past VCU, 6-1, Sunday at the Cook Tennis Center in Lynchburg, Va.  

The Paladins won two out of three doubles matches to win point one.  Senior Katarina Kozarov and sophomore Julia Adams, who are ranked 27th nationally, beat Gabriela Davidescu and Luminita Tutunaru, 6-3, at flight one, then the Rams' Paula Onita and Kanako Yano defeated juniors Georgie Walker and MaryAnn Rompf, 6-4, at number three to even the slate.  In the decisive flight two contest, senior Danni Vines and sophomore Madison Dillon edged Paola Diaz Delgado and Noumea Witmus, 6-4, for the point.

Furman survived for the victory in five of the six singles matches.  Kozarov, who ranks 14th nationally, held off Diaz Delgado, 6-4, 7-6(4), at flight one, and Adams slipped past Tutunaru, 7-6(6), 6-3, at flight two.  In the number three match up, Rompf came from behind for a 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 advantage over Davidescu, and at number four, Dillon squeaked by Yano, 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5.  Freshman Maggie Pate entered the lineup at flight six, where she beat Onita, 6-1, 6-1. 

VCU (5-5) scored at flight five singles, as Witmus outlasted Walker, 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6).

"Our team came out and played a great match today," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen.  "VCU always has a very strong team, and it was much closer than the score line says.  It was great to see our girls find a way to turn so many matches around."

Furman (10-3) will open the Southern Conference season Friday when the Paladins entertain Chattanooga at 3 p.m. at the Mickel Tennis Center.

#39 Furman vs VCU • 02/23/2020 at Lynchburg, Va.

Furman 6, VCU 1
Singles competition

1. #14 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. Paola Diaz Delgado (VCU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)

2. Julia Adams (FUR) def. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3

3. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Gabriela Davidescu (VCU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-4

4. Madison Dillon (FUR) def. Kanako Yano (VCU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5

5. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Georgie Walker (FUR) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)

6. Maggie Pate (FUR) def. Paula Onita (VCU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. #27 Katarina Kozarov/Julia Adams (FUR) def. Gabriela Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 6-3

2. Danni Vines/Madison Dillon (FUR) def. Paola Diaz Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCU) 6-4

3. Paula Onita/Kanako Yano (VCU) def. Georgie Walker/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) 6-4

Match Notes: Furman 10-3; National ranking #39 • VCU 5-5

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