SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- No. 33 Furman defeated Wofford, 6-1, Saturday at the Reeves Tennis Center in Spartanburg, S.C. The Paladins have won 12 out of their last 14 matches and hold Power 5 victories over Alabama, 16th-ranked Wake Forest, No. 18 South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Clemson this season and are 4-0 versus teams in South Carolina, having defeated USC, Clemson, Presbyterian, and Wofford.
With the victory over the Terriers, the Paladins maintained possession of the Pinson Cup. Bobby and Dixie Pinson, beloved friends of both the Furman and Wofford programs, have given the trophy and a generous donation in honor of the rivalry between the two schools. The trophy stays with the winning school until the winner of the next season's match is determined, and the Paladins have been awarded the trophy each year since its inception in 2005.
The Paladins claimed two out of three doubles matches to win the opening point. Senior Katarina Kozarov and junior Julia Adams, who rank 27th nationally, beat Jenna Vroman and Lilie Steryous, 6-2, in the top-seeded contest, and junior Madison Dillon and senior MaryAnn Rompf blew past Liz Massie and Georgia Fischer, 6-1, at number two. The Terriers picked up the victory at flight three, where Brittney Wilbur and Kay Kluska recorded a 6-1 advantage over freshman Ellie Schoppe and sophomore Maggie Pate.
Furman won five singles matches in straight sets. Kozarov, who ranks 15th nationally, topped Vroman, 6-4, 6-1, at flight one, and Rompf downed Massie, 6-4, 6-1, at number three. At flight four, Pate recorded a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Fischer, and Schoppe beat Emely Kahrs, 6-2, 6-2, at number five. Freshman Ilayda Baykan entered the lineup at number six, where she defeated Wilbur, 6-4, 6-3.
Wofford (8-4, 1-1) scored at flight two, where Steryous came from behind for a 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6) win over Dillon.
Furman (13-6, 1-0 SoCon) will entertain UNC Greensboro Friday at 3 p.m. at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
#33 Furman 6, Wofford 1
Singles competition
1. #15 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. Jenna Vroman (WOFW) 6-4, 6-1
2. Lilie Steryous (WOFW) def. Madison Dillon (FUR) 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)
3. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Liz Massie (WOFW) 6-4, 6-1
4. Maggie Pate (FUR) def. Georgia Fischer (WOFW) 6-1, 6-2
5. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Emely Kahrs (WOFW) 6-2, 6-2
6. Ilayda Baykan (FUR) def. Brittney Wilbur (WOFW) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #27 Katarina Kozarov/Julia Adams (FUR) def. Jenna Vroman/Lilie Steryous (WOFW) 6-2
2. Madison Dillon/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Liz Massie/Georgia Fischer (WOFW) 6-1
3. Brittney Wilbur/Kay Kluska (WOFW) def. Maggie Pate/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) 6-1
Match Notes: Furman 13-6; National ranking #33 • Wofford 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,3,4,1,6,2)
