MONTGOMERY, ALA. -- No. 42 Furman won two of three doubles matches to clinch the doubles point and hand 26th-ranked Alabama its first loss of the season Friday in the opening round of the Blue Gray Tournament in Montgomery, Ala.

Due to inclement weather in the Montgomery area, the match was delayed for most of the day, and the decision was made to begin play with singles, with the contest ending immediately when the first team reached four points.

Ola Pitak put the Crimson tide on the board with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over sophomore Ellie Schoppe at flight two, then Anne Marie Hiser stretched the lead to 2-0 after defeating freshman Jess Dawson, 6-4, 6-3, at flight five.  Freshman Ellie Schulson scored for the Paladins at flight six, beating Kasia Pitak, 6-4, 6-3, then rookie Sara Snyder topped Anna Parkhomenko, 6-4, 6-4, at number four to even the slate at 2-apiece.

Matches at flights one and three went to a third set.  Loudmilla Bencheikh held off senior Julia Adams, who ranks 54th nationally, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, at flight three to give Alabama a 3-2 advantage, but junior Madison Dillon preserved the match for the Paladins with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win over 124th-ranked Petra Sedlackova at flight three. 

In doubles, Adams and Schoppe, who rank 23rd nationally, slipped past 33rd-ranked Bencheikh and Hiser, 6-4, at number one, then Schulson and Dillon clinched the victory at flight two doubles, handing Ola Pitak and Kasia Pitak a 6-3 loss.

"This was a big-time performance from our team," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen.  "Alabama is a really well-coached team, and it was an incredible college tennis match.  Our young team will grow a lot from today, and we are excited to compete again tomorrow in the semifinals!"

Furman (8-4) will continue play at the Blue Gray Tournament Saturday.  The Paladins will take on top-seeded Oklahoma State in the semifinals, with the match time to be determined.

Furman vs Alabama • 2/25/22 at Montgomery, Ala. • Lagoon Park

#42 Furman 4, #26 Alabama 3

Singles competition

1. Loudmilla Bencheikh (ALA) def. #54 Julia Adams (FUR) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

2. Ola Pitak (ALA) def. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) 6-2, 6-3

3. Madison Dillon (FUR) def. #124 Petra Sedlackova (ALA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1

4. Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Anna Parkhomenko (ALA) 6-4, 6-4

5. Anne Marie Hiser (ALA) def. Jess Dawson (FUR) 6-4, 6-3

6. Ellie Schulson (FUR) def. Kasia Pitak (ALA) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #23 Julia Adams/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. #33 Loudmilla Bencheikh/Anne Marie Hiser (ALA) 6-4

2. Ellie Schulson/Madison Dillon (FUR) def. Ola Pitak/Kasia Pitak (ALA) 6-3

3. Petra Sedlackova/Sydney Orefice (ALA) vs. Jess Dawson/Maggie Pate (FUR) 5-4, unfinished

Match Notes: Furman 8-4; National ranking #42 • Alabama 9-1; National ranking #26

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