GREENVILLE, S.C. -- No. 24 Furman opened the Southern Conference season with a 7-0 win over Western Carolina Wednesday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C. The Paladins have won six out of their last seven matches, including victories over Alabama, 16th-ranked Wake Forest, No. 18 South Carolina, and Virginia Tech.
The Paladins claimed all three doubles victories to take the opening point. Senior Katarina Kozarov and junior Julia Adams, who rank 27th nationally, beat Jacy Smith and Kata Foldeak, 6-2, at flight one, and senior MaryAnn Rompf and junior Madison Dillon blew past Anna Uljanov and Julia Pezzuco, 6-1, at number two. At flight three, sophomore Maggie Pate and freshman Ellie Schoppe recorded a 6-2 advantage over Carli Deehr and Antonella Benavides.
In singles action, Furman won all six singles match, five in straight sets. Fifteenth-ranked Kozarov posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Foldeak in the top-seeded contest, and Adams downed Uljanov, 6-4, 6-2, at flight two. At number three, Dillon outlasted Smith, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8), while Rompf beat Hoda Habib, 6-2, 6-1, at number four. Pate delivered a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Benavides at flight five, and Schoppe defeated Emily Elliott, 6-3, 6-1, at flight six to complete the sweep.
Furman (7-5) will entertain Charlotte and Kennesaw State in a double header Saturday at the Mickel Tennis Center. First serve versus Charlotte is set for noon with the match against Kennesaw State to follow at 5 p.m. Western Carolina drops to 3-3 with the loss.
#24 Furman 7, Western Carolina 0
Singles competition
1. #15 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. Kata Foldeak (WCU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Julia Adams (FUR) def. Anna Uljanov (WCU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Madison Dillon (FUR) def. Jacy Smith (WCU) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
4. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Hoda Habib (WCU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Maggie Pate (FUR) def. Antonella Benavides (WCU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Emily Elliott (WCU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #27 Katarina Kozarov/Julia Adams (FUR) def. Jacy Smith/Kata Foldeak (WCU) 6-2
2. Madison Dillon/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Anna Uljanov/Julia Pezzuco (WCU) 6-1
3. Maggie Pate/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Carli Deehr/Antonella Benavides (WCU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Western Carolina 3-3 • Furman 7-5; National ranking #24
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,5,6,2,3)
