FURMAN DEFEATS CHATTANOOGA, 5-2, TO OPEN SOCON SEASON

March 20, 2022

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Furman men's tennis team beat Chattanooga, 5-2, Sunday in the Southern Conference opener for both teams at the Reeves Tennis Center in Spartanburg S.C.

The Paladins won two doubles matches for the point, as 29th-ranked graduate student Ivan Mitric and freshman Jamie Connel beat Tomas Rodriguez and Peyton Gatti, 6-4, at flight one, and sophomore Emil Westling and senior James Roelofse downed Kerim Hyatt and Kaisei Kuroki, 7-5, at flight two.  Furman freshmen Elijah Portizky and Cole Burnam lost in flight three doubles to Simon Labbe and Jordan McClure, 6-1. 

Furman won sets one and three through four, with Connel defeating Hyatt in flight two, 6-3, 6-2, and Roelofse beating Gatti in flight four, 6-4, 7-6.  Westling took flight five from McClure, 6-0, 6-4, and Singerman won flight six, 6-2, 6-2, against Mudre.

Chattanooga won at flights one and three singles.  Tomas Rodriguez held off Mitric, 6-3, 6-2, at flight two, and Labbe defeated Poritzky, 6-3, 6-3, at flight three. 

The Paladins (9-7) will face Samford on March 26 at 11 a.m. in Birmingham, Ala.

Chattanooga vs Furman • 03/20/2022 at Spartanburg, S.C. • Reeves Tennis Center

Furman 5, Chattanooga 2

Singles competition

1. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Ivan Mitric (FUR) 6-3, 6-2

2. Jamie Connel (FUR) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-3, 6-2

3. Simon Labbe (UTC) def. Elijah Poritzky (FUR) 6-3, 6-3

4. James Roelofse (FUR) def. Peyton Gatti (UTC) 6-4, 7-6

5. Emil Westling (FUR) def. Jordan McClure (UTC) 6-0, 6-4

6. Drew Singerman (FUR) def. Ryan Mudre (UTC) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. #29 Ivan Mitric/Jamie Connel (FUR) def. Tomas Rodriguez/Peyton Gatti (UTC) 6-4

2. James Roelofse/Emil Westling (FUR) def. Kerim Hyatt/Kaisei Kuroki (UTC) 7-5

3. Simon Labbe/Jordan McClure (UTC) def. Cole Burnam/Elijah Poritzky (FUR) 6-1

Match Notes: Chattanooga 3-12, 0-1 SoCon • Furman 9-7, 1-0 SoCon

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