GREENVILLE, S.C. -- No. 32 Furman swept Mercer, 7-0, Thursday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C., marking the Paladins' third sweep in their last four matches.
With the win, the Paladins, who are unbeaten in SoCon play, have won 17 out of their last 19 matches with Power 5 victories over Alabama, 16th-ranked Wake Forest, No. 18 South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Clemson. Furman is also 4-0 versus teams in South Carolina, having defeated USC, Clemson, Presbyterian, and Wofford.
Furman won all three doubles matches to take the first point. Junior Julia Adams and senior Katarina Kozarov, who rank 16th nationally, blanked Mary Courville and Lauren Rich, 6-0, at flight one, and junior Madison Dillon and senior MaryAnn Rompf cruised past Kristin Yordanova and Alara Hollyfield, 6-2, at number two. At flight three, sophomore Maggie Pate and freshman Ellie Schoppe recorded a 6-1 victory over Lekha Varudandi and Ericka Chavarria.
The Paladins won the top four singles matches in straight sets. Kozarov, who ranks seventh nationally, topped Hollyfield, 6-2, 6-1, in the top-seeded contest, and 77th-ranked Adams, downed Courville, 7-5, 6-2, at flight two. At flight three, Dillon defeated Rich, 6-2, 6-0, and Rompf beat Varudandi, 6-1, 6-0, at number four.
The teams played 8-game pro sets at flights five and six, where Pate posted an 8-3 win over Yordanova at flight five, and Schoppe defeated Ashley Popham, 8-3, at number six.
Mercer falls to 6-7, 0-3 SoCon with the loss.
Furman (18-6, 6-0 SoCon) will honor the team's seniors in their final home match on April 17 versus ETSU. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
#32 Furman 7, Mercer University 0
Singles competition
1. #7 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. Alara Hollyfield (MER) 6-2, 6-1
2. #77 Julia Adams (FUR) def. Mary Courville (MER) 7-5, 6-2
3. Madison Dillon (FUR) def. Lauren Rich (MER) 6-2, 6-0
4. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Lekha Varudandi (MER) 6-1, 6-0
5. Maggie Pate (FUR) def. Kristin Yordanova (MER) 8-3
6. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Ashley Popham (MER) 8-3
Doubles competition
1. #16 Katarina Kozarov/Julia Adams (FUR) def. Mary Courville/Lauren Rich (MER) 6-0
2. Madison Dillon/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Kristin Yordanova/Alara Hollyfield (MER) 6-2
3. Maggie Pate/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Lekha Varudandi/Ericka Chavarria (MER) 6-1
Match Notes: Mercer University 6-7, 0-3 SoCon • Furman 18-6, 6-0 SoCon; National ranking #32
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,3,1,2,5,6)
