COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Furman cruised to a 5-2 victory over 18th-ranked South Carolina Wednesday at the Carolina Tennis Center in Columbia, S.C. With the win, the Paladins (4-4) extend their winning streak to three matches after defeating Alabama, No. 16 Wake Forest, then the Gamecocks (3-3) over the past five days.
The Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead after winning the doubles point. Megan Davies and Mia Horvit, who rank 29th nationally, defeated Furman senior Katarina Kozarov and junior Julia Adams, ranked 27th nationally, 6-2, at flight one. The Paladins held an advantage at flight three, but Emma Shelton and Gabriela Martinez came from behind for a 7-5 win over freshmen Ellie Schoppe and Ilayda Baykan to take the point. Furman junior Madison Dillon and senior MaryAnn Rompf outlasted Ana Cruz and Allie Gretkowski, 7-6(3) at flight two.
In singles, Schoppe tied the score at 1-all with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Cruz at flight six, then South Carolina went ahead, 2-1, when Shelton, who ranks 93rd, beat Dillon, 6-2, 6-4, at number three.
The Paladins won the remaining four singles matches, three in three sets, for the 5-2 victory. Fifteenth-ranked Kozarov held off 34th-ranked Horvit, 7-6(7), 1-6, 6-4, at flight one, and Adams blew past 30th-ranked Davies, 6-0, 6-3, at flight two. At flight four, Rompf topped Gretkowski, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, and Pate came from behind for a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Elise Mills at number five to clinch the match.
"That was one heck of a college tennis match," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen. "We let the doubles point slip away and really challenged ourselves to step up in singles, and our team brought it at every single spot! It was a blast to play on the road and have some rowdy SEC fans and see our girls keep their composure. We will enjoy this one tonight and then start getting ready for another tough weekend on the road!"
Furman will travel to Virginia Tech on Saturday and play at Marshall on Sunday. First serve is set for 11 a.m. for both matches.
Furman 5, #18 South Carolina 2
Singles competition
1. #15 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. #34 Mia Horvit (SC) 7-6 (9-7), 1-6, 6-4
2. Julia Adams (FUR) def. #30 Megan Davies (SC) 6-0, 6-3
3. #93 Emma Shelton (SC) def. Madison Dillon (FUR) 6-2, 6-4
4. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
5. Maggie Pate (FUR) def. Elise Mills (SC) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #29 Mia Horvit/Megan Davies (SC) def. #27 Julia Adams/Katarina Kozarov (FUR) 6-2
2. Madison Dillon/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Emma Shelton/Gabriela Martinez (SC) def. Ellie Schoppe/Ilayda Baykan (FUR) 7-5
Match Notes: Furman 4-4 • South Carolina 3-4; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,3,2,4,5,1)
