GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The nation's top women's tennis talent will descend upon Furman this weekend, as the 36th annual Debbie Southern Furman Fall Classic will be held Friday through Sunday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C. The tournament will feature 14 teams in a flighted competition (i.e. no team winner, just individual flight champions for singles and doubles).
For the first time, live streaming will be available for select matches of the tournament HERE.
Nine of the 14 teams competing in the tournament were ranked in the top 33 in the 2023 final ITA Collegiate Tennis rankings: Georgia (2), N.C. State (4), Ohio State (10),Tennessee (14), Duke (11), Auburn (17), Georgia Tech (20), Wake Forest (27), and South Carolina (33). Also, Clemson finished the season ranked 45th, Alabama was 62nd, and Indiana concluded 2023 in 68th place. Besides the Paladins, Mississippi State will complete the field.
Two rounds of doubles will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, followed by a round of singles at 1 p.m. Play will continue on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is free to the event. Follow @FurmanWTennis on social media for updates in case of inclement weather.
"We are thrilled to continue the tradition of running such a high-level event to kick off the fall season on our beautiful campus," said Furman head coach Michelle Dasso, who is beginning her second year leading the Paladin program. "Each year we strive to enhance the experience for the student-athletes and fans. This year we will have live streaming on six of our 13 outdoor courts and encourage alumni, fans, parents, and the faithful Paladin nation to watch if they are unable to attend in person. The Debbie Southern Fall Classic is the highlight of our fall."
Furman claimed the 2023 Southern Conference regular season title after posting a perfect 7-0 regular season record. The title, which was the Paladins' seventh straight, marked Furman's 26th overall. Ellie Schulson was named to the All-SoCon first team for singles, while Jess Dawson and Sara Snyder, who ranked as high as 51st nationally, were voted to the All-SoCon first team for doubles. Six Paladins claimed ITA Scholar-Athlete citations for the 2022-23 season, and Furman was honored as an ITA All-Academic Team.
