CHATTANOOGA, TENN. -- Second-seeded ETSU stifled top-seeded Furman, 4-1, Saturday in the 2026 Southern Conference Championship finals at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Bucs improve to 16-7 with the victory and clinch the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, while the Paladins conclude the season with a 17-5 overall record. 

ETSU won two out of three doubles matches to take the first point.  Furman freshman Bianca Ceroni and junior Macy Hitchcock make quick work of Julia Millan and Ksenija Rage, 6-1, at flight two, before Alessandra Caceres and Mariangel Estrella combined for a 6-4 advantage at number one over Paladin freshmen Lillie Murphy and Elle Warren, who rank 46th nationally.  In the decisive flight three contest, Niyati Kukreti and Audelie Lesauvage defeated freshmen Sasha Dimitrov and Molly Robinson, 7-5, to claim the point.

In singles action, the Bucs scored in straight sets at flights one, five, and six.  Rage held off Murphy, 6-4, 7-5, at flight one, and Estrella topped freshman Lily Doherty, 6-4, 6-4, at number five.  At flight six, Kukreti posted a 7-5, 7-5, win over Robinson.

The Paladins scored at flight two, where Warren downed Caceres, 6-2, 6-1, and Ceroni led Lesauvage, 6-3, 3-6, 5-4, at number four when the match was abandoned.  At flight three, Millan was leading Hitchcock, 6-3, 4-6, 2-1 in the third set.  

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ETSU vs Furman • 04/18/2026 at Chattanooga, Tenn. • Champions Club

#2 ETSU 4, #68 #1 Furman 1
Singles competition
1. Ksenija Rage (ETSU) def. Lillie Murphy (FUR) 6-4, 7-5
2. Elle Warren (FUR) def. Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) vs. Julia Millan (ETSU) 3-6, 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
4. Bianca Ceroni (FUR) vs. Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) 6-3, 3-6, 5-4, unfinished 
5. Mariangel Estrella (ETSU) def. Lily Doherty (FUR) 6-4, 6-4
6. Niyati Kukreti (ETSU) def. Molly Robinson (FUR) 7-5, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Alessandra Caceres/Mariangel Estrella (ETSU) def. #46 Lillie Murphy/Elle Warren (FUR) 6-4 
2. Bianca Ceroni/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Julia Millan/Ksenija Rage (ETSU) 6-1
3. Niyati Kukreti/Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) def. Sasha Dimitrov/Molly Robinson (FUR) 7-5

Match Notes: #2 ETSU 16-7 • #1 Furman 17-5; National ranking #68
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,1,5,6) T-3:04 A-21