GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman wrapped up play at the 37th annual Debbie Southern Fall Classic Sunday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.  The Paladins scored three singles victories in the last day of action at the tournament, which featured some of the nation's top women's singles talent. 

Senior Ellie Schulson defeated N.C. State's Jasmine Conway, 7-6(4), 7-6(4), to win the consolation draw at flight six, and senior Marissa Pennings topped Ginger Foster of Georgia Tech, 6-3, 6-0, to take third place in the flight eight draw.    At flight nine, sophomore Macy Hitchcock finished second after dropping a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Kady Tannenbaum of Wake Forest.  Senior Alexa Griffith concluded play at flight ten with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Sophie Clayton of Clemson.

Nine of the 13 teams which competed in the tournament were ranked in the top 38 in the 2024 final ITA Collegiate Tennis rankings:  Georgia (7), Ohio State (12), N.C. State (14), Auburn (17), South Carolina (19), Georgia Tech (24), Texas Tech (25), Alabama (33), and Wake Forest (38).  Also, Clemson finished the season ranked 51st, and Kentucky concluded 2024 in 70th place. Besides the Paladins, Mississippi State completed the field.

Furman will compete at the ITA Carolina Regionals, Oct. 17-21, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Singles Results

Round Three

F6 Ellie Schulson (Furman) def. Jasmine Conway (N.C. State), 7-6(4), 7-6(4) - won consolation draw

F7 Makayla Mills (Wake Forest) def. Jess Dawson (Furman), 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3)

F8 Marissa Pennings (Furman) def. Ginger Foster (Georgia Tech), 6-3, 6-0 - finished third

F9 Kady Tannenbaum (Wake Forest) def. Macy Hitchcock (Furman), 6-4, 6-4 - finished second

F10 Alexa Griffith (Furman) def. Sophie Clayton (Clemson), 6-2, 6-1

F10 Ellie Myers (Kentucky) def. Grace Thomas (Furman), 6-1, 6-1