CHATTANOOGA, TENN. -- With the score tied at 3-all, junior Marissa Pennings overcame a 5-4 third-set deficit to defeat Margaret Jaraczewski, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), at flight five singles to lead Furman to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Samford Friday in the semifinals of the 2024 Southern Conference Championship at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.

With the win, Furman (12-12, 6-1 SoCon) advances to the finals of the league championships for the seventh-consecutive time.  The Paladins will square off against No. 1 seed East Tennessee State Saturday at 1 p.m. with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.  The Paladins and Bucs are meeting in the title match for the seventh-straight tournament, and Furman has won five of the seven match ups.

The Paladins eked past the Bulldogs in doubles, scoring victories at flights two and three to take the point.  At flight two, juniors Jess Dawson and Sara Snyder teamed up for a 6-4 advantage over Emily Surcey and Grace Keller, then the remaining two matches went to tiebreakers.  Juniors Grace Thomas and Alexa Griffith slipped by Jaraczewski and Lauren Waddles, 7-2, in the tiebreaker, and the flight one match was unfinished with junior Ellie Schulson and freshman Macy Hitchcock leading Alexis Lopez and Noelle Mauro, 5-2, in the tiebreaker.

Samford took a 2-1 lead with singles victories at flights one and three.  Lopez topped Snyder, 6-3, 6-4, in the top-seeded contest, and Ally Hayduk posted a 6-1, 6-3 advantage over Thomas at number three.  Furman's Hitchcock defeated Mauro, 6-4, 6-2, at number four to tie the match at 2-all, then the Paladins went ahead, 3-2, when Dawson outlasted Meredith Taylor, 6-4, 7-5, at flight six.  

Surcey came from behind for a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Schulson at flight two to tie the match at 3-apiece and set up the decisive flight five match up.

With the loss, Samford concludes the season at 10-12.  

#3 Samford vs. #2 Furman • 4/19/2024 at Chattanooga, Tenn. • Champions Club

Furman 4, Samford 3

Singles competition

1. Alexis Lopez (SAMW) def. Sara Snyder (FUR) 6-3, 6-4

2. Emily Surcey (SAMW) def. Ellie Schulson (FUR) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

3. Ally Hayduk (SAMW) def. Grace Thomas (FUR) 6-1, 6-3

4. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Noelle Mauro (SAMW) 6-4, 6-2

5. Marissa Pennings (FUR) def. Margaret Jaraczewski (SAMW) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) 

6. Jess Dawson (FUR) def. Meredith Taylor (SAMW) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition

1. Ellie Schulson/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) vs. Alexis Lopez/Noelle Mauro (SAMW) 6-6, unfinished

2. Jess Dawson/Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Emily Surcey/Grace Keller (SAMW) 6-4

3. Grace Thomas/Alexa Griffith (FUR) def. Margaret Jaraczewski/Lauren Waddles (SAMW) 7-6 (7-2)

Match Notes: Samford 10-12 • Furman 12-12

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

2024 Southern Conference Tournament (Women's Semifinals)