BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Top-seeded ETSU edged out No. 3 Furman, 4-2, Saturday in the Southern Conference championship match at the Hoover Met Center in Birmingham, Ala. 

The Bucs (13-7, 7-0 SoCon), winners of three-consecutive league titles, earn the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.  The Paladins, who made their third-straight appearance in the title match and reached the finals for the sixth time in the last seven championships, conclude their season at 10-12 overall and 5-2 in league play.

ETSU won two out of three doubles matches to claim the first point.  Dimitri Badra and Migue Este defeated freshman Ben Cahill and senior Ivan Mitric, 6-3, at flight two, and Thiago Pernas and Juan Sebastian Zabala topped senior Drew Singerman and freshman Emil Westling, 6-2, at number three.  Furman seniors Henrik Atlevi and Jake Bhangdia, who rank 89th nationally, beat Juan Lugo and Frazier Rengifo, 6-3, in the top-seeded contest. 

In singles action, Lugo pushed the lead to 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Atlevi at flight three, then Singerman put Furman on the board after recording a 6-2, 6-0 advantage over Este at flight five.  Pernas defeated Westling, 6-1, 6-3, at number four to give the Bucs a 3-1 lead, but again the Paladins answered as junior James Roelofse beat Bargeron, 6-3, 7-5, at number six to cut the deficit to 3-2.  Badra, who ranks 63rd nationally, clinched the title with a 6-0, 7-6(6) win over Mitric at flight one.

The flight two contest was unfinished, with Rengifo winning the first set, 6-2, then Bhangdia taking set two, 6-3.  The duo was tied at 1-1 in the third set.

ETSU 4, Furman 2

Singles competition

1. #63 Dimitri Badra (ETSU) def. Ivan Mitric (FUR) 6-0, 7-6 (8-6)

2. Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) vs. Jake Bhangdia (FUR) 6-2, 3-6, 1-1, unfinished

3. Juan Lugo (ETSU) def. Henrik Atlevi (FUR) 6-1, 6-0

4. Thiago Pernas (ETSU) def. Emil Westling (FUR) 6-1, 6-3

5. Drew Singerman (FUR) def. Miguel Este (ETSU) 6-2, 6-0

6. James Roelofse (FUR) def. Milo Bargeron (ETSU) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles competition

1. #89 Henrik Atlevi/Jake Bhangdia (FUR) def. Juan Lugo/Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) 6-3

2. Dimitri Badra/Miguel Este (ETSU) def. Benjamin Cahill/Ivan Mitric (FUR) 6-3

3. Thiago Pernas/J. Sebastian Zabala (ETSU) def. Drew Singerman/Emil Westling (FUR) 6-2

Match Notes: Furman 10-12, 5-2 SoCon • ETSU 13-7, 7-0 SoCon

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