JOHNSON CITY, TENN. -- In the battle of the Southern Conference's unbeaten teams, No. 41 Furman downed ETSU, 5-2, Saturday at the Dave Mullins Tennis Complex in Johnson City, Tenn., to claim the Southern Conference regular season title.
With the win, Furman (18-6, 7-0 SoCon) clinched the Southern Conference regular season title and earned the No. 1 seed in next weekend's league tournament. The title, which is the Paladins' sixth-straight, is Furman's 25th overall. The Paladins will play No. 8 Mercer Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the opening round of the conference championships, which will be held at Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.
ETSU drops to 15-8 overall and 6-1 in the SoCon and will be the No. 2 seed in the championship tournament.
The Paladins won the top two doubles matches to claim the opening point. Senior Julia Adams and sophomore Ellie Schoppe, who rank 32nd nationally, beat Laylo Bakhodirova and Alejandra Morales, 6-4, at flight one, and junior Madison Dillon and freshman Ellie Schulson outlasted Emilia Alfaro and Mayya Gorbunova, 7-5, at number two. The Buccaneers won at flight three, where Fernanda Carvajal and Daniela Rivera recorded a 6-1 victory over freshmen Sara Snyder and Jess Dawson.
Furman won four singles matches to complete the victory. Adams, who ranks 61st nationally, held off Bakhodirova, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, in the top-seeded match up, and Schoppe came from behind to beat Morales, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, at flight two. At number three, Snyder posted a 6-4, 6-1 margin over Carvajal, and Dawson scored a 7-5, 6-4 win versus Yunuen Elizarraras at number six.
The Buccaneers scored at flights four and five. Alfaro defeated Dillon, 6-3, 6-2, at number four, and Rivera won in three sets over Schulson, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
"I am so proud of our team," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen. "Our players compete at such a high level in these tight matches and today was no different. We always have a lot of respect for ETSU and their program, but their team this year is especially strong. We will celebrate today and get back to work Monday to get ready for the SoCon tournament."
Furman vs East Tennessee State • 04/16/2022 at Johnson City, Tenn. • Dave Mullins Tennis Complex
#41 Furman 5, #74 East Tennessee State 2
Singles competition
1. #61 Julia Adams (FUR) def. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
2. Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Fernanda Carvajal (ETSU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Emilia Alfaro (ETSU) def. Madison Dillon (FUR) 6-3, 6-2
5. Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Ellie Schulson (FUR) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
6. Jess Dawson (FUR) def. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #32 Julia Adams/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Laylo Bakhodirova/Alejandra Morales (ETSU) 6-4
2. Madison Dillon/Ellie Schulson (FUR) def. Emilia Alfaro/Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU) 7-5
3. Fernanda Carvajal/Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Sara Snyder/Jess Dawson (FUR) 6-1
Match Notes: Furman 18-6, 7-0; National ranking #41 • ETSU 15-8, 6-1; National ranking #74
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3,6,2,5,1)
