ATHENS, Ga. -- No. 32 Wake Forest outlasted No. 34 Furman, 4-2, Friday in the first round of the NCAA Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.

Furman clinched the doubles point to take an early lead.  Junior Madison Dillon and senior MaryAnn Rompf, who rank 79th nationally, upset Wake Forest's No. 24 Anna Brylin and Brooke Killingsworth, 6-0, at flight two.  Peyton Pesavento and Anna Campana evened the slate with a 6-2 victory over freshman Ellie Schoppe and Maggie Pate at number three, then, in the decisive flight one contest, senior Katarina Kozarov and junior Julia Adams, ranked 40th nationally, defeated No. 27 Eliza Omirou and Carolyn Campana, 6-3, for the point. 

In singles action, the Paladins extended the lead to 2-0 when 16th-ranked Kozarov blew past No. 15 Carolyn Campana, 6-0, 6-1, at flight one, but the Demon Deacons put together four singles wins at flights three through six to secure the victory.  Brylin downed Dillon, 6-2, 6-0, at number three, and Omirou topped Rompf, 6-2, 6-1, at number four.  At flight five, Killingsworth defeated Pate, 6-2, 6-1, and Casie Wooten entered the lineup at flight six where she recorded a 6-4, 6-4 advantage over Schoppe to clinch the match.  

The flight two contest was unfinished.  Adams, who ranks 101st, beat 54th-ranked Anna Campana, 6-2, in set one, and the duo was tied at 5-all when the match was called.

"This has been an incredible year, but also definitely the most challenging year," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen.  "Everyone who has finished the season has said this has been the hardest season in their coaching or playing career with all the challenges that everyone has faced.  Our team specifically has had some really big challenges that we had to go through, and I couldn't be more proud of our team. This is an incredible group of girls, and I would go to battle with them anytime, any place, any where, against anybody.  Most people have said they are relieved that the 2021 season is over, but for us it is obviously very fresh, and it is gut wrenching because we think we have a team that can stack up with anybody.  Unfortunately, it just didn't go our way today."

"Today has been a little heart breaking, of course, after all we went through," said Kozarov.  "This has been an incredible year, and I couldn't be happier and more proud of this group of girls.  All nine of us are like a family, and we are closer than we have ever been with everything we've been through this semester.  It has definitely been an incredible challenge, and I couldn't be happier to be with the team this spring.  In the fall I didn't know if I was going to be here this spring, and coming back for another year definitely was the best decision I have ever made.  Building relationships with these girls on and off the court and seeing them improve in every way and seeing them battle has been phenomenal.  I think it is very rare for a women's team to have a bond like ours after all of the challenges.  Unfortunately today is the end of a chapter, but I can't wait to see all of the future challenges that we will overcome together." 

Furman (21-7) claimed the Southern Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by capturing its 20th SoCon Championship and made its 13th appearance in the NCAA tournament.  

#32 Wake Forest 4, #34 Furman 2

Singles competition

1. #16 Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. #15 Carolyn Campana (WF) 6-0, 6-1

2. #54 Anna Campana (WF) vs. #101 Julia Adams (FUR) 2-6, 5-5, unfinished

3. Anna Brylin (WF) def. Madison Dillon (FUR) 6-2, 6-0

4. Eliza Omirou (WF) def. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) 6-2, 6-1

5. Brooke Killingsworth (WF) def. Maggie Pate (FUR) 6-2, 6-1

6. Casie Wooten (WF) def. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. #40 Katarina Kozarov/Julia Adams (FUR) def. #27 Eliza Omirou/Carolyn Campana (WF) 6-3

2. #79 Madison Dillon/MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. #24 Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth (WF) 6-0

3. Peyton Pesavento/Anna Campana (WF) def. Maggie Pate/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) 6-2

Match Notes:

Furman 21-7; National ranking #34• Wake Forest 12-12; National ranking #32

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

First round of the NCAA Tournament.