GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Sophomore Macy Hitchcock came from behind for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Margaux Maquet at flight five singles to clinch the match, as Furman shocked No. 22 Alabama, 4-3, Monday in the season opener for both teams at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.

The Paladins won two out of three doubles matches to claim the opening point.  Seniors Ellie Schulson and Sara Snyder blanked Maquet and Maria Martinez-Vaque, 6-0, at flight one, but Alabama's Klara Milicevic and Sara Nayar evened the slate with a 6-3 victory over seniors Alexa Griffith and Marissa Pennings at flight three.  In the decisive flight two contest, senior Jess Dawson and sophomore Macy Hitchcock came from behind to beat Petra Sedlackova and Maria Andrienko, 6-3, for the point. 

Furman won the first two singles points to build a 3-0 advantage.  Snyder held off Milicevic, 7-5, 7-5, at flight two, and Pennings defeated Andrienko, 6-3, 6-4, at number three, before Alabama cut into the Paladin lead with victories at flights one and four.  Sedlackova topped Dawson, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, in the number one match up, and Martinez-Vaque edged out Schulson, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, to trim the advantage to 3-2.  Senior Grace Thomas entered the lineup at flight six for Furman but retired due to injury after Hitchcock clinched the match, with Nayar taking the point, 2-6, 7-6(3), 5-0.

"First, we would like to thank the Furman family and fellow student-athletes that came out to support the team today,"said Paladin head coach Michelle Dasso.  "A win like this doesn't happen without a tremendous amount of buy-in and consistent effort.  It is certainly a fun way to start the season. The coaching staff couldn't be happier for the girls." 

The Paladins (1-0) will play host to North Florida Friday at 3 p.m. at the Mickel Tennis Center.

No. 22 Alabama vs Furman • 01/20/2025 at Greenville, S.C. • Mickel Tennis Center
Furman 4, #22 Alabama Women's Tennis 3
Singles competition
1. Petra Sedlackova (UA) def. Jess Dawson (FUR) 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
2. Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Klara Milicevic (UA) 7-5, 7-5
3. Marissa Pennings (FUR) def. Maria Andrienko (UA) 6-3, 6-4
4. Maria Martinez-Vaque (UA) def. Ellie Schulson (FUR) 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 
5. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Margaux Maquet (UA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Sara Nayar (UA) def. Grace Thomas (FUR) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 5-0, retired

Doubles competition
1. Ellie Schulson/Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Margaux Maquet/Maria Martinez-Vaque (UA) 6-0 
2. Jess Dawson/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Petra Sedlackova/Maria Andrienko (UA) 6-3
3. Klara Milicevic/Sara Nayar (UA) def. Alexa Griffith/Marissa Pennings (FUR) 6-3

Match Notes:
Alabama Women's Tennis 0-1; National ranking #22
Furman 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)