GREENVILLE, S.C. -- No. 38 Furman held off No. 42 Rice, 4-2, Sunday at the Mickel Tennis Center on the campus of Furman University.
With the victory, the Paladins (12-2, 2-0 SoCon) extend their winning streak to seven matches, while Rice falls to 12-5.
Furman won two out of three doubles matches to score the opening point. The Owls' Saara Orav and Francesca Maguina led off the action with a 6-1 advantage over senior Jess Dawson and sophomore Macy Hitchcock at flight two, then Paladin seniors Ellie Schulson and Sara Snyder defeated Darya Schwartzman and Fernanda Martinez, 6-2, at flight one to even the slate. In the decisive number three contest, seniors Alexa Griffith and Marissa Pennings beat Anushka Ashar and Divna Ratkovic, 6-3, for the point.
Dawson scored a quick 6-0, 6-2 victory over Maguina at flight three singles to give Furman a 2-0 lead, but the Owls' Allison Zipoli entered the lineup at flight six singles, where she topped senior Grace Thomas, 6-3, 6-0, to put Rice on the board. Schulson came from behind for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Martinez to push the Paladin margin to 3-1, before Nithesa Selvaraj downed Hitchcock, 6-3, 6-4, at number four to cut the deficit to 3-2. Snyder rebounded to clinch the match, defeating Schwartzman, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, in the top-seeded match up.
The flight two match was unfinished. Ratkovic won set one, 6-1, but Pennings came back for a 6-4 victory in the second set. The third set was tied at 1-apiece when the match ended.
The Paladins continue their home stand when they face Brown on Monday at 3 p.m. at the Mickel Tennis Center.
No. 42 Rice at No. 38 Furman • 03/23/2025 at Greenville, S.C. • Mickel Tennis Center
#38 Furman 4, #42 Rice 2
Singles competition
1. Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Darya Schwartzman (RICE) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Marissa Pennings (FUR) vs. Divna Ratkovic (RICE) 1-6, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
3. Jess Dawson (FUR) def. Francesca Maguina (RICE) 6-0, 6-2
4. Nithesa Selvaraj (RICE) def. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) 6-3, 6-4
5. Ellie Schulson (FUR) def. Fernanda Martinez (RICE) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
6. Allison Zipoli (RICE) def. Grace Thomas (FUR) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Ellie Schulson/Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Darya Schwartzman/Fernanda Martinez (RICE) 6-2
2. Saara Orav/Francesca Maguina (RICE) def. Jess Dawson/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) 6-1
3. Alexa Griffith/Marissa Pennings (FUR) def. Anushka Ashar/Divna Ratkovic (RICE) 6-3
Match Notes: Rice 12-5; National ranking #42 • Furman 12-2; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,1) T-02:55
